KEY POINTS:
Sledging, or mental disintegration to give it Steve Waugh's cute phraseology, has been around cricket since W. G. Grace was the dominant figure in the game in Victorian England.
It takes all forms, from the amiable to the nasty, the on-field to the off.
Anything goes, from weight to sex to attempts at conning the officials, and all points in between. In between the slagging off, genuine humour can be found.
The alleged verbal work of Harbhajan Singh and Brad Hogg during the heated Sydney test this week are small beer compared to what's gone before, and far less amusing.
Cricket's treasure trove of literature down the ages has produced a mountain of material. Here's a mix of the good, the bad and the gobby ...
UMPIRES
Twas the wind which took thy bail orf, good sir.
Grace to the umpire after replacing a bail which had been knocked off by a delivery.
Indeed, doctor, and let us hope thy wind helps the good doctor on thy journey back to the pavilion.
The umpire had the last word.
Count 'em yourself yer Pommie bastard.
Australian umpire Peter McConnell to England spinner Phil Tufnell, who'd asked how many balls remained in his over during the 1990-91 Ashes tour.
ASHES
So how's your wife and my kids?
Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh to England allrounder Ian Botham during an Ashes test.
I wish you were a statue and I was a pigeon.
Australian barracker to slowcoach England batsman Trevor Bailey during an Ashes test.
If it had been a cheese roll it would never have got past him.
Teammate Graham Gooch after roly-poly, food-loving Mike Gatting was bowled by Warne's so-called ball of the century in 1993.
If the Poms win the toss and bat, keep the taxi running.
A banner during England's woeful Ashes campaign in 1994-95.
I should've kept my legs together, Fred.
England's Raman Subba Row to teammate and fast bowling great, Fred Trueman, after letting a ball fly between his legs in an Ashes test.
So should your mother!
Trueman's response.
Don't give the bastard a drink. Let him die of thirst.
England captain Douglas Jardine's favourite piece of barracking from the crowd in Sydney during the 1932-1933 Bodyline series.
I dunno. Maybe it's that tally-ho lads attitude. You know, there'll always be an England, all that Empire crap they dish out. But I could never cop Poms.
Australian speed legend Jeff Thomson.
Alright, which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?
Australian vice captain Victor Richardson - grandfather of Australian hardheads Ian and Greg Chappell - to his teammates during the Bodyline series.
WICKETKEEPERS
You don't get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat ****!
Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy to porky Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga after he had called for a runner on a steamy night in Sydney.
Put a Mars bar on a good length. That should do it.
Healy again to Warne, as they tried to tempt Ranatunga out of his crease to drive.
Ah Symo, great to see you mate. How's everyone, the family? I know you, Symo. If you edge me and I take the catch I'm going to send a copy of the scorecard to your home, every day for a year.
Loudmouth England wicketkeeper Paul Nixon to Australian batsman Andrew Symonds.
WEIGHT
Looks like you spent it eating.
South African batsman Daryll Cullinan to Shane Warne. Warne told him he'd been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate him.
Why are you so fat?
Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath baits solidly-built Zimbabwe No 11 Eddo Brandes
Because every time I make love to your wife she gives me a biscuit.
Brandes' reply.
MERV HUGHES
Tickets please!
Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes to spiky Pakistani batting star Javed Miandad upon dismissing him in a test at Adelaide in 1991. Miandad had previously told Hughes he was "a fat bus conductor".
This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl.
Richards to Hughes during a test in Antigua.
In my culture we just say **** off!
Hughes upon dismissing Richards soon after.
You can't ****ing bat, mate.
Hughes to England batsman Robin Smith, who hit the next ball for four, then replied:
Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't ****ing bat and you can't ****ing bowl.
GREAT COMEBACKS
'Mate, what are you doing out here. There's no way you're good enough to play for England.
Australian batsman Mark Waugh, twin of former captain Steve, welcome to England player James Ormond as he walked to the crease:
Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family.
It's red, round and weighs about five ounces. Now see if you can hit it.
Glamorgan fast bowler Greg Thomas to West Indian great Viv Richards after repeatedly beating the edge of his bat.
Then Richards clunked the next delivery out of the Swansea ground.
Greg you know what it looks like. Now go find it.
Surely you're not going doctor? There's still one stump standing.
Speedster Charles Kortright having had repeated lbw appeals against Grace turned down, he then knocked out two of his stumps.
