Ashes 2017-18: Graeme Swann Says Pre-Ashes Heated Conversation Just Media Hype
Nov 10, 2017 at 2:13 PM
The Ashes series has always been one of the most heated series of all as emotions run high and hot in the encounter between the two countries. From Ricky Ponting’s banter against the England management to Mitchell Johnson’s argument against Kevin Pietersen, the Ashes has had it all. One of the most famous incidences will be Michael Clarke’s confrontation with James Anderson.
Michael politely advised James Anderson to prepare himself for a “broken arm,” which was caught up on stump microphone. Graeme Swann, one England’s most successful off-spinner played in 18 Ashes Tests recalled the 2013/14 Ashes which had some of the most heated moments. Swann said that sledging and hatred between players of both the teams is nothing but hype created by the media.
He said:
“All the things about sledging and hatred between the two teams. It’s all press hype. And I know because I’ve been on both sides of the fence. The teams have no real reason for hatred.”
Remembering the Clarke-Anderson incidence, Swann said:
“I don’t think they should be there because of how out of proportion everything gets taken. Jimmy didn’t even realise that was an issue until it was on the news that night. Things get taken out of context by people who simply don’t understand what’s going on. And when it is picked up, it is a horrific example for kids so it shouldn’t be there.
“You’ve got to remember that in the field, the one person that didn’t at all have an issue with that was Jimmy Anderson. People were up in arms saying Michael Clarke’s saying this and that. If that’s not water of a duck’s back… I can’t think of anyone less threatening than Michael Clarke. It is unfortunate that it was picked up. That’s not witty, that’s not clever, that’s just trying to get at England’s main bowler because you’re on top.”
Before Clarke targeted Anderson and confronted him, the fast bowler sledged Michael Hussey and called him David Hussey throughout his innings:
“Jimmy sledged Mike Hussey. He called him Dave Hussey, the entire series, every single ball ‘shot Dave, well left Dave, morning Dave’. In the end Mike says ‘I’m Mike Hussey!’ ‘Oh sorry Dave’.”
David Warner recently tried to fire up the contest by saying that the Ashes is nothing less than a “War.” However, Swann poured cold water on his attempts to instigate fire in the series; It’s manufactured, it’s trying to live up to the stereotype, it’s very obvious.
“There’s no point [in England fighting back with words]. Look at McGregor v Mayweather. That was some of the most embarrassing human behaviour I have ever seen. Of course they don’t mean it, but they know that people lap it up, 24-hour news channels lap it up and they’ll get column inches and that means millions of dollars. The more trash talk there is, it builds it up. To say it is pathetic and hot air is an understatement.”
“But Cricket Australia want someone to come back, and the ECB what someone to come back, because eventually it means the TV deal with have another nought on the end of it. And that’s all it is. And that’s why it is hyped up. I’m not trying to play it down, it is a massive event, but it doesn’t need to be hyped up like that because people shouldn’t look for needle and hatred in something that’s not there.