Siddle: Sledging will continue as normal

Australia

Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle was unrepentant about the high-profile sledging at the end of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, saying it was part of the game and would continue for the rest of the series.

Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle was unrepentant about the high-profile sledging at the end of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, saying it was part of the game and would continue for the rest of the series.

Aussie skipper Michael Clarke was fined 20% of his match fee for telling England tail-ender James Anderson to 'get ready for a f***ing broken arm'. It was picked up by the stump mic and broadcast live, but Siddle says if the mic hadn't been on then nothing would have come of it.

Siddle told <i>Radio Sports National</i>: "It's just natural. It wasn't any different to normal. If it hadn't of been on the mic a lot people would not have said so much about it.

"The most disappointing thing is that it actually came up (on the broadcast). It's not meant to at that time and it is very stiff for Michael.

"Throughout the series there will be more of it going on but it will be under control."

He went on to say that Anderson had been an instigator in the verbal battles, and deserved all the stick he received, adding: "Anderson brought it on himself. So fair's fair.

"There was a lot of other stuff going on and James Anderson was in the thick of it and a culprit for it all happening.

"He is one of the leading wicket-takers in the world so he is happy to have a chirp but as long as Mitchell Johnson keeps bowling them around his ears that will quieten him up pretty quickly."

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