Aussie sledging has crossed line this time, insists Prior
● England players ‘quite upset’ about verbal abuse not related to cricket
Matt Prior claims Australia have verbally abused England’s players during the Ashes over an issue which has not been publicised for “various reasons”.
Australia admitted to sledging the tourists during the opening Test, but captain Steve Smith insists his teammates’ comments have not crossed a line.
England bowler James Anderson branded the hosts “bullies” and Prior, pictured, says “there’s a lot that’s gone on that I think the England players are quite upset about”.
Speakingtobbcradio5live, former England wicketkeeper Prior added: “There’s been a lot of chat on the pitch that hasn’t got anything to do with cricket and frankly shouldn’t be on a cricket pitch – stuff that hasn’t come out, for various reasons.”
He said: “Simple sledging doesn’t really work on these top international players. Alastair Cook is not going to be affected by sledging, Steve Smith, [David] Warner – these guys have seen it, they’ve done it. So therefore you have to go deeper if you want to try and get a reaction and say something that’s going to be pretty fiery and potentially personal.” Meanwhile, Anderson believes England have done themselves justice in the second Test in Adelaide, whatever the result. Having conceded a first-innings deficit of 215, the tourists dismissed Australia for a second-innings 138 to leave a victory target of 354.
England closed day four on 176 for four, needing another 178 runs to level the five-match series, with skipper Joe Root unbeaten on 67, although the late dismissal of Dawid Malan took the shine off a fine day for England.
Anderson said: “The first two innings in this game we were really frustrated. There was a bit of anger as well as we didn’t do ourselves justice. But we have come out with the ball and now with the bat.
“We have done ourselves proud so far. Three down would be amazing. Losing Dawid at the end there was tough. But we would take this position from the first innings. Bowling poorly first innings and batting poorly first innings, we would have taken this position.”
England silenced their critics with the bat, showing more application and fight to keep the Aussies at bay, with captain Root and Malan leading by example. “There is no doubt in that dressing room. We know we can fight and have a lot of determination,” Anderson added.
England did not hit their usual high standards with the ball after winning the toss on day one. But they learned their lesson second time round as Anderson took his first fivewicket haul in Australia to skittle the hosts.
“We are very happy,”he added. “We did a lot of good stuff with the ball swinging around under the lights.”