The Ashes rivalry between Australia and England is among the fiercest in all of cricket – perhaps only second to the battles between India and Pakistan.
Since that pivotal Test contested at the MCG all the way back in 1877, tensions have more than occasionally run high, and despite any 21st-century assertions about sportsmanship, public civility, and setting an example for the kids out there… the chirps were glorious.
Ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes series commencing in Perth this Friday, we decided to compile the most memorable and red-hot sledges fired in both directions.
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Merv Hughes to Graeme Hick
Hick struggled to get runs on the board.
“If you turn the bat over, you’ll find instructions on the back.”
Merv Hughes and Graham Gooch
Gooch hit Hughes for four through cover.
Hughes: “You can only get so many like that before you get out.”
Gooch: “I can hit you anywhere I like.”
Hughes: “Well, you can’t hit me in the f**king car park.”
Rod Marsh to Ian Botham
Marsh: “How’s your wife and my kids?”
Botham: “The wife’s fine. The kids are retarded.”
England’s Ian Botham celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s Rodney Marsh.
(Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Shane Warne to Paul Collingwood
“You’ve been picked for this Test? You’re the only guy in history to play 100 Tests before scoring a run.”
Graham Gooch to Mike Gatting
After Warnie’s Ball of the Century on the second day of the opening 1993 Test (his very first delivery on Ashes debut and the moment leg spin bowling was revived). Gatting then copped some friendly fire from his own skipper after being bowled out.
“If it had been a cheese roll, it wouldn’t have got past him.”
Glenn McGrath to Michael Atherton
The English skipper will never forgive himself after falling for this classic.
McGrath: “Athers, it would help if you got rid of the s**t at the end of your bat.”
[Atherton looks at the bottom of his bat.]
McGrath: “No, no, the other end.”
Jimmy Ormond to Mark Waugh
Waugh: “There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.”
Ormond: “At least I’m the best player in my own family.”
Ian Botham to Rodney Hogg
After Hogg lost his balance while bowling and fell at Botham’s feet.
“I know you think I’m great Hoggy, but no need to get down on your knees.”
Ian Botham hooks Rodney Hogg for 4 runs during first day of the fourth Cornhill Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. He was later bowled by Terry Alderman for 26 runs.
(Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Robin Smith to Merv Hughes
Hughes: “You can’t f**king bat.”
[Smith hits Hughes for four.]
Smith: “Hey, Merv, we make a fine pair. I can’t f**king bat and you can’t f**king bowl.”
Shane Warne to Ian Bell
Warnie and Michael Clarke kept calling Bell “Sherminator” from American Pie.
Warne: “You don’t like being called the Sherminator, do you?”
Bell: “I’ve been called worse.”
The nickname persisted for years after the 2006-07 Test series.
Michael Clarke to James Anderson
Anderson had told George Bailey he’d love to punch him in the face; Mitchell Johnson was about to bowl some canned heat.
“Get ready for a broken f**king arm.”
David Hookes to Tony Greig
Greig: “When are your balls going to drop, sonny?”
Hookes: “I don’t know, but at least I’m playing cricket for my own country.”
Merv Hughes to Graham Gooch II
“Would you like me to bowl a piano and see if you can play that?”
MERV HUGHES, AUSTRALIA, CELEBRATES THE WICKET OF GRAHAM GOOCH, ENGLAND
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/EMPICS via Getty Images)
Shane Warne to Paul Collingwood II
Collingwood, along with the rest of the 2005 Ashes-winning English side, received MBEs for their victory.
“You got an MBE, right? For scoring 17 at The Oval? That’s embarrassing.”
Aussie Fan to Phil Tufnell
“Oi, Tufnell! Can I borrow your brain? I’m building an idiot.”
