KP plays down sledging, says it’s friendly banter
Melbourne, Dec. 22: England’s Kevin Pietersen said on Wednesday Australia’s current team could not out-sledge Test greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, dismissing a sharp rise in verbal clashes during the Ashes series.
Pietersen said he had faced some “pretty big verbal contests” during England’s last tour of Australia, when the legendary bowlers were still playing, but had seen nothing unusual in this year’s Tests.
Both teams have acknowledged raised temperatures during the home team’s series-levelling win in Perth, with England’s James Anderson and Matthew Prior in the thick of it along with Australia’s Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.
“There’s not really any big chirpers or big sledgers, it’s just England versus Australia. It’s an Ashes series,” said the South African-born batsman.
“Blokes get a bit of red mist occasionally. You’re allowed to do that on both teams. You’re playing for a little urn. It’s historic. It’s huge. But there’s nothing that’s been overboard.”
Australia had not won a Test since July until they wrapped up the big 267-run win on Sunday in a performance marked by a return to their traditional aggression. The series is poised 1-1 going into Sunday’s penultimate Test.
Meanwhile, Pietersen was confident that pace spearhead Anderson would be fit for the Boxing Day Test despite a side strain. A record 91,000 people are expected at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for day one on Sunday.
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