No sledging ban for Australian players by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 27th June 2009

 

Ricky Ponting's men on tour for Ashes will not be operating under a 'sledging' gag against England. Cricket Australia clarified that no specific ban is in place on the near-the-knuckle wisecracks for which Ashes contests, among other international cricket fixtures, have long been renowned.

 

Reports today suggested an edict from on high had instructed the 2009 tourists to resist all temptation for a verbal joust in the heat of battle. A spokesman today explained, however, that correspondence with players on the issue of good sportsmanship for this summer's tour and beyond is not so prescriptive.

 

The source of the guidance for players is a positive response from Australia's sports-mad public to a request for feedback commissioned for the team last year, and again over the past winter. It became clear from the survey that Australia's cricketers were among the most "trusted" of all their country's sportsmen and sporting teams.