I’m better when I sledge, says Siddle

Australia paceman Peter Siddle was unapologetic for his tirade at Matt Prior after dismissing the England wicketkeeper in the third Test in Perth and described sledging as ‘good fun’ enjoyed by both the Ashes rivals.

Australia paceman Peter Siddle was unapologetic for his tirade at Matt Prior after dismissing the England wicketkeeper in the third Test in Perth and described sledging as ‘good fun’ enjoyed by both the Ashes rivals.

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Siddle sprayed invective at Prior after bowling him for 12, prompting the wicketkeeper to fire back a few choice words of his own before trudging off the field. Prior vented his anger in a British newspaper column on Tuesday: “There are not many boxing matches when a guy knocks someone out and then kicks him while he’s on the floor,” he wrote.

But Siddle described the episode as “part of the game”.

“It’s always going to be there, we fight hard in the field and the emotions come out. It’s always around and no doubt going to be around in the future as well,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“I think that’s part of my game anyway. When I play my best that’s what I’m doing anyway. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, in this case it has.