Webber urges Aussies to go for `more sledging` during Ashes

Johannesburg – Former Formula One driver Mark Webber has called for more sledging in cricket, saying the Australians should go even further in their verbal battle against England during the Ashes, according to reports.

According to Sport24, the first two Tests have involved heated exchanges between players, including Australian skipper Michael Clarke threatening tailender James Anderson with a broken arm in Brisbane.

Clarke was fined 20 percent of his match fee for the outburst but the sparring continued in the second Test where England’s Matt Prior had a running verbal battle with several Australian players on the fourth day, the report said.

While Clarke was criticised for going too far, players on both sides have said the confrontations have been largely unremarkable in the tradition of Ashes contests, and Webber called for more as Australia are up 2-0 and on the cusp of winning back the urn, the report added.

Webber said that in his opinion, more the sledging, the better it is, adding that he wants to see plenty of it, as it is a brilliant part of the sport.

He added that Warner’s comments and Clarke’s barb at Anderson were nothing in front of what happened in the 80s.

Webber, who said he used to play cricket with the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin at school, also said he believed that the Australian crowds had contributed to the home team’s success which follows a dismal 3-0 loss in England earlier this year, the report mentioned.