Lillee reacts sharply to Gavaskar's speech

Dennis Lillee has reacted sharply to Sunil Gavaskar's criticism of Australia's sledging tactics, saying that sledging would never leave the game completely.

"Sledging has gone on since W.G. Grace and it will go on as long as any sport is played, not just cricket," Lillee was quoted as saying in The Age. "If they think it's too bad, the authorities are there to stop it."

"I think it's funny coming from someone who took his bat and went home when an umpire's decision went against him," said Lillee, referring to the Melbourne Test between Australia and India in 1981. Gavaskar, adjudged lbw to Lillee, was so incensed at the decision, that he dragged his partner Chetan Chauhan off the field, and was placated only on the sidelines by Col. Hemu Adhikari.

Lillee also responded to Gavaskar's charge that bowlers in school games anywhere in the world are verbally abusing batsmen after seeing their heroes do it on TV. "I don't know how much junior cricket he has watched in Australia. That's not right."