'Don't worry, you can sleep in my bed tonight' - Cricket's best ever sledges

Aussie fast bowler Merv Hughes provided one of the great sledges during his career. Photo / Getty Images

With debate raging about the place of sledging in the modern game, we take a look back at six of the more humorous verbal stoushes that took place on cricket field.

1. Viv Richards and Greg Thomas
West Indian master blaster Viv Richards copped a spray during an English county game, when Glamorgan's Greg Thomas chirped up after the batsman was unable to put bat to ball over a couple of deliveries.

"It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering," Thomas said. Richards belted the next ball out of the park and into a nearby river, before hitting back verbally with: "Greg, you know what it looks like, now go and find it."

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2. Shane Warne and Daryll Cullinan
The infamous Australian leg-spinner was always fond of a bit of chat but, during one test when he was dominating South African right-hander Daryll Cullinan, he received an unexpected and cutting reply.

Warne informed his rival that he had been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate the South Africans. Cullinan shot back with: "Looks like you spent it eating."

3. Dennis Lillee
The celebrated Australian quick is said to have enjoyed taunting batsmen with the sarcastic line, "I can see why you are batting so badly, you've got some shit on the end of your bat".

The verbal bait would usually result in the batsman inspecting the bottom of his bat before Lillee hit them with the punchline, "wrong end mate".

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4. Viv Richards and Merv Hughes
Burly loudmouth Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes was continually staring down West Indian legend Viv Richards on a tour of the Caribbean. Eventually Richards snapped. "This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl," Richards said. Hughes bit his tongue - until he subsequently got Richards out. "In my culture we just say, f*** off."

5. James Ormond and Mark Waugh
Little-known England batsman James Ormond arrived at the crease during a test against Australia in 2001. He Immediately copped grief from Mark Waugh, half of the celebrated twins, who fired off with, "f*** me. Look who it is. Mate, what are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England." Ormond's terrific response: "Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family."

6. Darren Gough and Shane Watson
When Australia stayed over at Lumley Castle in Durham before their clash at Chester-le-street, there was rumoured to be a ghost on the prowl. The evening left Watson so spooked out that he decided to sleep on the floor of Brett Lee's room for comfort. The England players couldn't resist mocking Watson, with Gough doing his best impression of a ghost and telling the Aussie: "Don't worry, you can sleep in my bed tonight."