'He must have had a pretty quiet career'

Veteran Australia paceman Peter Siddle says Australia were "tame" in their sledging in the Test series against South Africa that AB de Villiers labelled as the worst he's witnessed. 

Australia prevailed 2-1 in a heated three-Test series in February-March 2014, but the series will also be remembered for the ill-feeling between the two sides, particularly the final-day feud between visiting captain Michael Clarke and Proteas quick Dale Steyn.

De Villiers said the sledging by the Australians in the series was "personal" and believes it is something "they regret".

"That was definitely the most abuse we've got on the cricket field," de Villiers told Fox Sports.

Quick Single: Sledging 'the worst': ABdV

"When we play England, it's pretty verbal. I also remember touring Australia in 2006 as a youngster, with the likes of Warne and McGrath and Gilly behind the stumps.

"Still, that was nowhere near what we received in 2014. Australia certainly made a conscious effort to be verbally over the top.

"Maybe they felt they could get under us if they really came out and got personal with some of us. I felt it was unnecessary.

"Some of the Australian players came up and apologised and felt that it was a little bit over the top … certainly at times they did go over the top and I think they regret that in some way."

Siddle, who played the first two Tests of that series, said the verbal barbs thrown at the South Africans was nothing different what his side, past or present, has dished out before.

"He (de Villiers) must have never been sledged before if that's the case," Siddle said Tuesday in response to de Villiers' remarks.

"Gee, we were pretty tame I think compared to past eras and past teams.

"He must have had some pretty quiet games in his career I think."

Test captain de Villiers is an unlikely starter  on South Africa's Test tour of Australia with an elbow injury, with batsman Faf du Plessis to stand in and lead the side.

Quick Single: ABdV targets Adelaide for injury comeback

In that epic 2014 series du Plessis described the Australians "like a pack of wild dogs" in the field.

The 32-year-old has delivered some more strong words ahead of the first Test, saying his side's recent 5-0 whitewash over the Australians will "leave a bit of a scar on them mentally".

In hearing those comments, Siddle says the pressure is now on du Plessis and his charges.

"That's what I sort of giggled at, reading that article," Siddle said. "It's a totally different side.

"They (South Africa) played an inexperienced (Australia) side over there in that one-day series, whereas they come out here against the Test side and it's a lot more experienced.

"I think there's a lot of players coming into the side that have a lot of first-class experience but a lot of Test experience as well.

"They're good comments but it puts more pressure on them, by them talking a big game, than it does on us."