Australia’s cricketers have long been regarded as the masters of verbal aggression.
The amount of banter they will target at the Black Caps has been one of the talking points leading up to the tantalising World Cup clash between the tournament co-hosts in Auckland on Saturday.
But the Australians have found a defender in veteran New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori.
The former Black Caps skipper, whose international career began in 1998, says he can’t recall being subjected to a sledge during a trans-Tasman encounter.
“Like everything, it’s a little bit overstated,” he said.
“In my 18 years now of playing, I can’t even remember being sledged by an Australian team. I think the way that it’s portrayed is not quite right.”
Vettori said the Black Caps were looking forward to what awaited them at Eden Park.
“It is more about the actual physical contest,” he said.
“I think that’s the thing that guys get up for and get excited about. I don’t expect it to be any different in this game.”
Eden Park has been sold out for the clash, and Vettori is looking forward to a similar vibrant atmosphere as in the Black Caps’ last match, when a full house in Wellington witnessed their eight-wicket drubbing of England.
Asked if he wanted the New Zealand fans to give the Australian side a hostile reception, Vettori replied: “Not really, no.
“I don’t think it’s an issue for anyone. It will be a lot of fun and I think the Australian guys will love it and we will love it as well.”
Earlier this week, coach Mike Hesson said the Black Caps wouldn’t be indulging in any sledging.
“We deal with plenty of sides that provide that and we just tend to go about our work,” he said.
“We don’t get too caught up on that sort of stuff.”
Hesson said there wasn’t a team directive on the issue.
“We don’t have a team rule,” he said.
“We’re respectful of our opposition. We focus on what we are trying to do rather than anything else.”
Bee bee
Guest
Why would you sledge a team with three guys capable of bowling 150km plus. Sledging often works against you as India discovered in the recent test series. Can someone please sledge Johnson. He needs it.
Jake
Guest
lol. another pretend "Aussie" telling us like it is. how original
Elma Dudd
Guest
I found the exact opposite . People revere Australian sports teams as the utmost professionals and are generally envious .
GD66
Guest
Sledging over time has been included in, or even the subject of, a number of books and articles, most have which have been notable for the comedy, wit or irony of the better and more memorable sledges. To have a knucklehead like Warner come out before each series or chosen test with an ill-selected, ineffective but probably-sanctioned jibe intended to alarm or upset the opponent shows a lack of sympathy for the art form that successful sledging has always been : clever and amusing. Might as well have him come out with "your mother wears army boots." If you're planning to sledge, at least make it impressive. Otherwise you'd be well advised to zip it, or like the Black Caps say nothing and wait for game day.
Don Freo
Guest
So Vettori makes a clear statement that it is not an issue and you just decide he's wrong. You don't like sledging but go ahead and do the same thing yourself against the Aussies. Those of you who are so vehement and so nasty with that vehemence, can't you see you are not applying that same standard to yourself? ...or have you got a licence that allows you to be nasty?
Sandy
Guest
FraggieWrangler...is that you?
Sandy
Guest
Where have you travelled to Fraggie...New Zealand? And quite frankly, if you knew anything about your own country you would know that the whole sledging thing is a beat up.
Johnnyball
Guest
Spot on Fraggle.
JB
Guest
It's been part of the game for years plenty of kiwis have done it too, happens in every code of sport of note in Australia and the USA. If you don't want to watch a sport that contains any verbal banter then the pickings are slim tennis / golf maybe? There is certainly no cricket rugby league, union, afl, football, basketball, nfl, baseball, boxing, mma and a host of others. Vettori is right most of the press around Aussie sledging / sledging in general is a beat up, and some people will believe anything they read.
FraggleWrangler
Roar Rookie
If the rumours are true and New Zealand plays 'sans sledging' in today's match, I'll be one Australian cheering for a black caps win. I'm so sick of sledging in cricket I've pretty much given up on the game. It's a disgrace that a bunch of overpaid school children is allowed to wear the coat of arms on their chest, travel overseas as ambassadors for Australia, and then do everything in their power to prove to the rest of the world that every bad stereotype they have about Australians is true. When I've travelled overseas, I've found that Australia is not regarded as a great sporting nation, but as arrogant, poor losers, worse winners, and a country that doesn't know the meaning of sportmanship.