‘C’mon, knock him over’ – the day Aussie sledging stopped me in my tracks | Vic Marks


Australia have hinted they will bring up the Ben Duckett affair in the third Ashes Test against England in Perth as they demonstrate their love of the art of mental disintegration that goes back a long way

It took an awfully long time to bowl my first ball in Australia. I was playing grade cricket in Perth in 1981 in front of half a dozen spectators and in the opposition for Melville were Graeme Wood and Dennis Lillee, who was coming back from major back surgery.

A left-hander (not Wood) was on strike when I was summoned to bowl. I set my field carefully like the good old English pro I was supposed to be and was about to propel my first delivery down under when there was a cacophonous yell from the man at deep square leg.

Related: Joe Root denies rift between Jimmy Anderson and England’s Ashes coaches

How about Armando Iannucci as England's scriptwriter of sledges? He can surely cut into the Aussies' psyche.

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