Sledging has no part in Cricket

 In my experience few cricketers understand what the preamble to the laws of cricket say.

In essence it says you should respect all umpiring decisions. Again in my experience respect is usually given to decisions in their favour not the other way.

It also says respect should be given to the opposition and their own team mates.

It goes without saying therefore sledging should have no part of the game.

Test umpires have IMHO been very poor with regard to player behaviour. Yesterday they shouldf have told both Lyons and Hazelwood to tone it down when they took a wicket and clearly were looking straight at the departing batsman when they were 'whooping' it up. It is small  incidents like this that make for larger and much worse ones.

As important as this is the influence on Junior and indeed senior players cannot be underestimated. I had 14 seasons of junior cricket and had to at times tell youngsters what they were doing was out of order.

The excuse always was and is they do this in tests. They say the same thing in Shires!!