Perth, Dec. 17: England batsman Ian Bell dismissed suggestions verbal jousting between the sides helped fire Australia’s stunning revival on the second day of the third Test at the WACA here on Friday.
There were several heated exchanges during the day, with England’s Matthew Prior clashing verbally with Peter Siddle and Australian captain Ricky Ponting after the former claimed his wicket, while Mitchell Johnson exchanged pleasantries with Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson, both of whom he dismissed.
Johnson said the clashes helped fire up the embattled Australians, saying Pietersen was being a “smart-arse”, but Bell dismissed the claim.
“I don’t think Johnson was quite in our faces like he thinks he was,” Bell said.
Bell said he noticed Prior’s clash with the Australians, but said the wicketkeeper was simply disappointed at being dismissed and added there was nothing untoward in the exchanges during the day.
“It is an Ashes Test match and both teams are desperate to win,” he said.
Johnson said a few taunts from the English got him going. He admitted the Australians had made a conscious effort to be more “fiery” on the field in this match. “That is what I guess we have tried to do here, get really involved in the match, but not overstep the line.”
Johnson said Pietersen asked for his phone number. “I don't think he was being friendly, no. He was being a bit of a smart-arse,” he said.
Johnson said Graeme Swann was England’s best sledger. “He’s a bit more clever with what he says,” he said.