The Ashes 2017: Glenn McGrath to Ian Healy and Ian Botham: best Australia v England sledges

WHAT’S the Ashes without a bit of sledging! Down the years there have been some classic verbal jousts between some big-name players. This series could well prove just as fiery.

Glenn McGrath took the wicket of Michael Atherton 19 times.

THE Ashes means it’s time for sledging season to get underway.

While there is often much to admire when England battle Australia to secure the tiny urn, players will resort to some low stunts to get the upper hand.

This includes mind games, or sledging as it is known in cricket.

Here‘s five top sledging clashes when the two teams came face-to-face over the years.

Glenn McGrath took the wicket of Michael Atherton 19 times.

Glenn McGrath and Mike Atherton

McGrath tried out an old favourite on the England opener and it appeared to work.

McGrath: “Hey, Athers, it would help if you got rid of the s*** at the end of your bat.”

Atherton looks at the bottom of his bat.

McGrath: “No, mate, the other end.”

Rod Marsh and Ian Botham

Botham arrived at the wicket and Aussie wicketkeeper Marsh piped up from behind the stumps.

Marsh: “So how’s your wife and my kids?”

Botham: “Wife’s fine, kids are retarded.”

Ian Botham and Rod Marsh engaged in some intersting verbal jousting.

James Anderson and Michael Hussey

Anderson took to calling Aussie left-hander “Dave” throughout the 2010-11 series – apparently confusing him with his brother, David.

Eventually, Hussey snapped.

Hussey: “Hey, Jimmy, my name’s Mike.”

Anderson: “Oh, sorry about that, Dave.”

Nasser Hussain’s nose was a source of mirth for Ian Healy.

Ian Healy and Nasser Hussain

England skipper Nasser Hussain has a prominent proboscis. One day, the Aussies were discussing fielding positions. Eventually captain Steve Waugh made his decision.

Waugh to Ricky Ponting: “Field at silly point. I want you right under his nose.”

Wicketkeeper Ian Healy: “That could be anywhere inside a three-mile radius.”

Robin Smith and Merv Hughes

Big Merv was one of the game’s great sledgers and in 1989 exchanged words with England’s Robin Smith.

After playing and missing a few times, Hughes snapped: “You can’t f****** bat.”

Next ball, Smith belted a boundary and responded: “Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can’t f****** bat and you can’t f****** bowl!”

Originally published as The Ashes 2017: Glenn McGrath to Ian Healy and Ian Botham: best Australia v England sledges