Mumbai: Nobody can forget the famous confrontations between Glenn McGrath and Rahul Dravid in 2001 when Australia toured India. In fact there have been plenty of such on-field rivalries between Indian and Australian players. Saurav Ganguly-Steve Waugh, Harbhajan Singh-Ricky Ponting and going back to the most recent series in Australia, the infamous Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds controversy.

But this time when the Aussies face off against India in a seven-match series starting on Sunday at Vadodara, we may not witness too many such incidents because the Australian players now feel a bit awkward to sledge Indian players, some of whom have become very good friends post the Indian Premier League.

“It is easier to get under the skin of a person if you don’t know him personally. But thanks to the Indian Premier League, we know many of the (Indian) players and hence it becomes awkward sometimes,” says all-rounder James Hopes. “Things can get a bit heated when you are on the field but the difference from the earlier times is that it will be restricted on the field. Once the match is over we clarify all the issues off the field.”

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Tim Paine also replied in the negative when asked about on-ground sledging. “I have done it a few times in the domestic matches but yet to open my mouth in the international matches. If I have to say anything, I would rather say it to the bowler and the skipper,” Paine said.

Australia speedster Mitchell Johnson, who has already talked about giving chin music to the Indian batsmen, recalls an incident when he tried to sledge Rahul Dravid during last year’s Delhi Test.

“I hoped to put Rahul Dravid off his game and really sledged him. He was batting on 50-plus. But he hardly reacts. I realised soon that I was wasting my breath,” he said.

Tagged with: Andrew Symonds, Australia, Glenn McGrath, Harbhajan Singh, India, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Mumbai, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Saurav Ganguly, Steve Waugh, Tim Paine

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