Are these the best sport sledges of all time?

Cricket's sledging wars are back on. Photo of Merv Hughes / Getty Images

It seems sledging and the Australia cricket team goes hand-in-hand and on Monday night Aussie wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and New Zealand's Grant Elliott became involved in a heated verbal exchange.

It wasn't the first between the two sides this summer. When Mitchell Satner made his test debut in the historic day-night test in Adelaide, he played with the straightest bat to defuse what could have been an awkward situation for the youngster.

Santner was an obvious target for the Australians in the field when he walked out to bat for the first time.

"[Spinner Nathan] Lyon asked straight away, 'Are you nervous?'" Santner told Radio Sport.

"I was like, 'Ah yeah,' and that stopped the [conversation]."

Sledging doesn't have to be nasty, and can involve some sharp wit.

When former Australia bowler Merv Hughes tangled with Pakistan's Javed Miandad, it resulted in one of the best lines in cricket.

Miandad: "Merv you are a big, fat bus conductor."

Hughes, after dismissing Miandad, responded with: "Tickets please."

Here are five more of the funnier cases.

Fred Trueman

The English fast bowler found the edge of a bat, only for the ball to fly between team mate Raman Subba Row's legs. When Row apologised and said he should have kept his legs together, Fiery Fred replied: "So should your mother".

Daryll Cullinan

Fun-living Aussie bowler Shane Warne had great success against South African batsman Cullinan. After a gap in their rivalry, Warne greeted Cullinan by saying: "I've been waiting two years for another chance at you". Cullinan replied: "Looks like you spent it eating."

Merv Hughes

The Aussie fast bowler had English batsman Robin Smith in all sorts of trouble, but couldn't get an edge. Hughes told Smith: "If you turn the bat over you'll get the instructions mate".

Hughes, again

England's Graham Gooch was struggling against the Aussie quick bowler. Hughes enquired: "Would you like me to bowl a piano and see if you can play that?"

Steve Waugh

In a domestic Sheffield Shield match, Australian legend Waugh was pottering about at the crease a little too slowly for Jamie Siddons' liking. "For !@#$ sake, it's not a !@#$%^ test match," Siddons exclaimed. Waugh replied: "Of course it's not...you're here."