Video: West Indian cricketer Kieron Pollard throws bat at Australia’s Mitchell Starc

THERE were bouncers, sledges and then the ultimate: a throw of the bat. Aussie Mitchell Starc’s heated exchange with Kieron Pollard is among the best of all time.

IT started with a simple bouncer.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc dug one in short to West Indian Kieron Pollard, who attempted to hook and was lucky not to get struck in the helmet.

Starc delivers the bouncer that started it all.

Starc, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, followed it with a verbal spray.

The Aussie quick follows his bouncer with some choice words.

Pollard just waved him away.

Pollard tells Starc to go back to his mark.

The very next ball is when things got out of control.

As Starc steamed in and was just about to deliver, Mumbai’s Pollard did the most annoying thing you can do to a fast bowler - he backed away from the crease.

Great gamesmanship.

Starc chases Pollard with a ball way down the leg side.

Starc reacted quickly, though, angling the ball way down the leg side - purposely aiming for Pollard, and the batsman was not happy.

Pollard lost it. He lifted his bat and threatened to throw it at Starc before actually letting go.

Fortunately for the Aussie, the bat didn’t land anywhere near him.

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“Oh no, no, no, this is not good. this is not a flashpoint that is just not good,” said the commentator calling the Twenty20 game.

“It has been simmering under the surface ... and that is not what you want to see on any cricket field.”

Umpire Tony Crafter tries to calm down Javed Miandad (with bat) and Dennis Lillee at the WACA Test match in 1981. Picture: David Tanner.

Starc eventually had the satisfaction of running Pollard out, but the West Indian had his own joy, catching Starc out in the covers in the second innings.

The match, for what it’s worth, also ended in a victory to Pollard’s Mumbai side, who successfully defended 5-187 to win by 19 runs.

The feud brought back memories of an infamous clash between Australian great Dennis Lillee and Pakistan’s Javed Miandad in 1981.

On that occasion there was actual contact, with Lillee lightly kicking the leg of Miandad, who - like Pollard - threatened to strike the bowler with the bat.