Published: Oct 17, 2016, 12:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 17, 2016, 12:48 PM (IST)
South Africa’s batting mainstay AB de Villiers has claimed that the sledging done by Australian cricketers in their previous meeting in 2014, was the worst he faced in his entire career. In a closely-contested three-Test series, Australia emerged as the victorious team by a margin of 2-1, but not before irking some of the South African cricketers, including Dale Steyn, and at the end of it all, apologising for crossing the line. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke and Steyn were particularly involved in an ugly feud, and despite the former apologising for going overboard with sledging, it is not yet known whether the South African pacer has forgiven the retired Australian cricketer or not.
Australia’s sledging was so intense that Faf du Plessis later on described the rampant tourists, who were into their South Africa tour after the 5-0 annihilation of England in the Ashes 2013-14, ‘like a pack of wild dogs’.
Talking to the Fox Sports, de Villiers has claimed that the sledging that they had to face in the 2014 series was the worst. He said, “That was definitely the most abuse we’ve got on the cricket field. When we play England, it’s pretty verbal. I also remember touring Australia in 2006 as a youngster, with the likes of Warne and McGrath and Gilly behind the stumps. Still, that was nowhere near what we received in 2014. Australia certainly made a conscious effort to be verbally over the top.” ALSO READ: South Africa’s clean sweep and other records from 5th ODI against Australia
De Villiers continued, “Maybe they felt they could get under us if they really came out and got personal with some of us. I felt it was unnecessary. Some of the Australian players came up and apologised and felt that it was a little bit over the top … certainly at times they did go over the top and I think they regret that in some way.”
Steyn, who was involved in an ugly fight with Clarke, later said after arriving in Australia in late 2014 that he had not forgiven the hosts’ captain for saying what he did. “I haven’t really spoken to him much since then to be honest,” Steyn said. “I don’t take many things personally, but what he did say to me I did take personally. I know he apologised in the media and I should be playing this down. But the day he comes and shakes my hand and says, ‘I really mean what I said’ and behaves like the way he should, maybe then I will (forgive him).”
