'We all love sledging': Warner

David Warner has called England fast bowler James Anderson an “instigator” and described sledging as “good for the game on the field” but was adamant there was no room for carrying it beyond the boundary in the wake of the Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja furore.

Anderson and India’s Jadeja were cleared by the ICC’s independent judicial commissioner after a six-hour hearing, however there is a possibility an appeal will be lodged over the Anderson outcome, with ICC chief executive Dave Richardson having until Sunday August 10 to consider whether to take that action.

Asked on the SportsFan Clubhouse to sum up the incident in a word, Warner chose “Instigator”.

“Every team needs one and I think Jimmy Anderson is probably England’s instigator,” Warner said, before continuing with a cheeky grin.

“I know sometimes I’m that (the instigator) for the Australian team.

“We all love sledging out there in the heat of the battle and I think a thing on Jimmy’s side is he’s actually a bowler, so he can do that.

“As a batsman, we can try but if we nick off, they’re just going to send us packing.

“I think it’s good for the game on the field but you can’t cross that line.”

Asked about what constituted crossing the line, Warner recalled an incident in the third Test of the Australia’s tour of India in 2008 when Gautam Gambhir collided with Shane Watson.

“It was getting a bit heated there,” said Warner of a Test three years before his debut. “Next over, Gambhir hit one, a quick single, coming back, turned for the second run and actually elbowed Shane.”

Warner then cited Michael Clarke’s infamous “broken f---ing arm” sledge as an example of Anderson’s “instigator” behaviour.

“I was fielding at gully and what no-one could hear or see was what Jimmy Anderson was saying to George Bailey,” Warner continued.

“George Bailey wouldn’t sledge anyone. So we’ve all just had enough of it so we all kept on going at him (Anderson).

“Then Michael Clarke decided to come down and put it straight to him …. why wouldn’t you when you’ve got Mitchell Johnson bowling 150kph!”