Jonathan Agnew says Australian players failed to live up to Phillip Hughes' memory by sledging in India Test series

Updated

Cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew has criticised the Australian cricket team for not dumping the use of sledging in the aftermath of Phillip Hughes's death.

The former English Test bowler, who now commentates for the BBC, told the Radio Times magazine that he was disappointed in both sides' response in the Australia v India Test series following the death of Hughes.

The 25-year-old died last November, two days after being hit in the neck by a bouncer in a shield game for South Australia against New South Wales.

The death prompted an outpouring of emotion from cricketers across Australia and around the world.

Clarke, a close friend and former team-mate of the late South Australian batsman, was one of many leading cricketers to attend the funeral service in Macksville in northern New South Wales.

Agnew cited Clarke's eulogy, in which he said: "Phillip's spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we all love."

"Michael Clarke said very clearly that Hughes' memory would run through the team, and would be in the way they would play their cricket," Agnew said.

"Well, I haven't seen evidence of that."

The Test series against India was delayed and rescheduled following Hughes's death.

I really hoped that out of this tragedy might have come some good. But the players haven't behaved any better, and I think that's a real disappointment. Jonathan Agnew

Although the memory of the tragedy was still fresh when play resumed, resulting in heightened concern from all players whenever batsmen were hit by deliveries, the Test series still had a number of verbal confrontations between both sides.

Agnew, who played three Tests for England and had a long country career for Leicestershire, said he believed it was time to get rid of sledging in the game.

"I really hoped that out of this tragedy might have come some good," he said.

"But the players haven't behaved any better, and I think that's a real disappointment."

Topics: sport, cricket, australia, india, england

First posted