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Irony is dead. James Anderson calls for an end to phoney hostilities in the coming Ashes series.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Irony is dead. James Anderson calls for an end to phoney hostilities in the coming Ashes series.

Hmm getting pretty silly already is it? Glad I don't see any of it really being over here unless I get on BBC sport or cricinfo.

It baffles me that professionals like these two sides can get into so many mind games.

I think if anything personal is said on the field then there has to be some kind of punishment.

Like "yo momma" type language.

The Waugh Twins wrote:I think if anything personal is said on the field then there has to be some kind of punishment.

Like "yo momma" type language.

Whad you say about my Momma?

I'd guess sledging either way will provoke the crowd, but in different ways.

Wouldn't it be a bit weird seeing Australia and England be nice to each other on the sporting field?

Not saying it would be a bad thing, just be strange to see

They don't need to like it other as it is an aggressive sport, but at the same time I don't know why they can't. There have been plenty of players that didn't hate the opposition. I certainly don't think you should be able to speak to the batter whilst the bowler is in his run up, just as you can't change the field. Much like golf during the swing you have to concentrate when you're about to hit the ball.

I think a number of these blokes though will never grow up.

The game's gone soft.

Nothing soft about respect and fair play.

Yeah but I like our players to be tough and rugged like Simon Cowell.

Not introverted wallflowers like Louis Walsh.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Nothing soft about respect and fair play.

Spot on Arthur.

I'd like them to be mensch, like Brendon McCullum.

At least be yourself. Don't be a mug just because your coach tells you to, or because you think that's how it is done. The Aussies (they often say) believe in a sporting culture where nothing is given away for free. The Kiwis came as ambassadors. And England respond to both in kind. So, what is their true self?

I don't mind a bit of aggression on the field. Clarke's 'break your arm' comment was though too much. The odd sledge and glance is mostly harmless.

There have been some funny sledges down the years.

I agree though it's not good when it gets too personal.

Some comment is good. Aggressive play is good. Threats of violence aren't. Distracting the players isn't. Walking to meet the incoming batter and getting in his ear as he walks to the middle isn't. I remember two Aussie players striding either side of a player walking in, during the last whitewash, from the gate to the pitch. The kind of abuse Anderson inflicted on Jadeja isn't good.