6 instances when sledging in cricket was successful

Sledging made famous byAustralians on the cricket field involves distracting and unnerving theopposition by words or actions, thereby playing with their mental strength and getting them off agood patch they are in or make their not-so-fruitful stay even more miserable.Very often,it backfires,as verbalscan motivate playersto extract revenge;at times, though, the oppositiondoes manage to get under the skin of a playerand emerge victorious in the "mini battle" of sorts.Here's a look at 6 instances when sledging was successful and worked for a team.

#1 Merv Hughes v Vivian Richards

FormerAustralian fast bowler Merv Hughes has a history of rarely keeping quiet on the field. In a match in West Indies, he decided to take on the legendary Sir Vivian Richards. Hughes didn't say a word to the West Indian but continued staring at him after deliveries.

An irked Richards snapped back saying, "This is my island, my culture. Don't you stare at me. In my culture we just bowl."

Hughes didn't reply;his staring had worked, though,as Richards was soon to besent back to the pavilion by the bowler.

These were his final words to the batsman after emerging victorious:"In my culture we just f**k off."

#2 Kiran More v Javed Miandad

Possibly one of the funniest incidents of sledging, involving India’s Kiran More and Pakistan vice-captain Javed Miandad in a high octane World Cup clash in 1992.

The wicket-keeper had invited the wrath of Miandad for chirping a tad too much from behind the stumps and for appealing unnecessarily. Despite the Pakistani taking it to the umpire, More was in no mood to tone down.

All of a sudden, Miandad did something that was totally unexpected: mimicking More. The right-hander hit the ball to mid off and started jumping on the ground, appealing for a dismissal.

Too much involvement in the "frog jumping" incident seemed to have distracted him, as he was soon dismissed; consequently, his country lost the match and the Indians had the last laugh, literally.

#3 Kumar Sangakkara v Shaun Pollock

Playing the 2003 World Cup at home, South African captain Shaun Pollock was at the receiving end at one of the most famous sledging incidents, by none other than Kumar Sangakkara.

The stump mic picked up the gloveman’s welcome to Pollock as he said, "How's the pressure skipper? He's going to let his whole country down. Oh the weight of 42 million people depending on Shaun."

South Africa needed 120 runs in 125 balls with 5 wickets in hand when he made those comments. The South African was visibly disturbed by these words, managing only 25 in a lost cause.

#4 Shoaib Akhtar v Steve Waugh

In a 1999 World Cup clash between Australia and Pakistan, the short-tempered Shoaib Akhtar asked Steve Waugh, while the latter was batting on 49, to try and save his wicket, as, anyway, he wouldn’t be able to score many runs.

Waugh, trying to take charge, went after the delivery, only to miss it and get bowled by the pace bowler, on 49.

The sledge had the desired effect as Pakistan went on to win the game by 10 runs. The finals, however, turned out by Australia’s.

#5 Andrew Flintoff v Tino Best

During the England v West Indies series in 2004, West Indian tail-ender Tino Best, facing up to left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, played a series of forward defensive shots. Andrew Flintoff, fielding at slip, urged him to go over the top and uttered, "Mind the windows Tino."

The very next delivery, Best took a wild swing at the ball, missed and was out stumped. Flintoff could not contain himself as he spent a whole 5 minutes giggling, while Best rued his mistake of falling into the trap set.

(Reactions can be seen in the last few seconds of the video)

#6 Shane Warne and Darren Berry v Michael Slater

Michael Slater was playing a state cricket game against Australian teammates Shane Warne and Darren Berry. Warne, not minding that he was up against a fellow Australian international, along with Berry, tried to get under the skin of Slater by suggesting his temper was like a time bomb.

When Slater came out to bat, Warne and Berry began:

Warne- "Tick"

Berry- "Tock"

Warne -"Tick"

Berry-"Tock"

Slater got impatient as they continued and eventually holed out at deep midwicket. As the right-hander walked back to the pavilion, he stared at the Australians, who shouted, "The bomb was defused. KABOOM!"