ADELAIDE, (Reuters) – England will let their cricket do the talking in the second test in Adelaide after engaging in some “ugly” verbal exchanges with Australia during their opening loss in Brisbane, captain Alastair Cook said yesterday.
The tourists slumped to a 381-run defeat in front of a hostile crowd at the Gabba, where an occasionally spiteful contest re-ignited the debate about sledging and sportsmanship.
Australia captain Michael Clarke was fined 20 percent of his match fee after he was caught by a stump microphone telling James Anderson to get ready for a “broken” arm when the paceman was batting, one of a number of heated moments during the test.
Australia have pledged to maintain the aggression at Adelaide Oval when the match starts today, but Cook struck a more statesmanlike tone.
“I think it’s important that both sides recognise that a couple of scenes in that last test weren’t great for the game of cricket,” he told reporters.
“It’s important that we play in the right way. I think people what to see real tough cricket, that’s what they enjoy, especially between England and Australia, but there’s got to be a boundary that we don’t cross.
“Maybe last week we let emotion get ahead of ourselves a little bit on some occasions and it got a little bit ugly.
“Obviously Michael and I have a responsibility as captains of both sides to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
