Latest news with #sledging
SBS Australia
13 hours ago
- Sport
- SBS Australia
Provocazioni, parolacce e acrobazie: lo sport australiano
Transcript You're at your first Aussie sports match. The crowd is shouting, the players are yelling — and you're doing your best to understand... but it all sounds so weird! Hi, I'm Dr. Howie Manns. I study language and how people use it. After moving to Australia, I fell in love with AFL football. But I was shocked by the way Aussies talk about sport — on and off the field. It isn't always polite. But once I understood it, I found more ways to join in the fun. Not-so-polite passion for sport In Australia, being a little rude during sport is part of the game. Let's start with cricket. Back in 1877, Australia and Britain played their first official Test series. Australia shocked Britain by holding them to a draw — and then winning the Third Test. Tensions rose. At one match, a controversial umpire call led to an Aussie crowd storming the field. A British player called them 'Sons of convicts!' This moment tells us two key things: Australians love the underdog. And we don't always play it cool under pressure. Sledging and sportsmanship One of Australia's most famous sports terms is sledging — on-field banter meant to distract or intimidate your opponent. The term came about in the 1960s or '70s, likely from the word 'sledgehammer' (as in, 'subtle as a sledgehammer'). Sledging can be friendly — or harsh. Cricket legend Shane Warne (a.k.a. Warnie) said it's about timing, and not every sledge is meant to hurt. Footy talk: Aussie rules and colourful language I'm an AFL fan — go, Doggies — so let's talk footy. We've called it 'Aussie Rules' since World War I. In fact, we started saying 'Aussie' around the same time. Footy is full of expressive phrases: 'Give him the don't argue' – a player pushes away an opponent with an outstretched arm. 'Selling the candy' – faking out an opponent by pretending to pass. 'Blinder' – a spectacular play or performance. We even name moments after athletes. Steven Bradbury became a legend by winning gold when everyone else fell. Now we say someone 'did a Bradbury' if they win unexpectedly. And of course, there's the chant: 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!' Made famous during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Underdogs, jokes, and 'a bit of a hit' Aussies love a humble winner. Even top athletes downplay their success in interviews. We love the underdog — and we love not taking ourselves too seriously. If a game's just for fun, we might say: 'Just having a bit of a hit' or 'a bit of a knock.' That phrase — 'a bit of' — is uniquely Aussie. It shows we're being casual, playful, even self-deprecating. Sport is everywhere — even at work Sport is more than play in Australia — it's part of the culture. It shows up in everyday talk and even in the office. 'Opening the batting' = starting a meeting 'Shirtfront' = confronting someone head-on (even in politics) 'Handball' = passing a task on to someone else Whether on the field or in the boardroom, Aussies love a bit of slang and banter. Sport connects us Sport connects Australians — even when we disagree about the game. We joke with teammates. We cheer in the stands. We argue about the score at the pub. This shared language makes us feel like part of a team — on and off the field. Language keeps evolving Aussie English is always changing. New words arrive. Old ones fade. And our sports language reflects that evolution. Understanding the past — from sledging to shirtfronts — helps us feel more at home here. So stay curious. Because sometimes, those weird sports words can open the door to a wonderful life in Australia. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency
SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Provocaciones, palabrotas y jugadas espectaculares: la jerga en los deportes australianos
Enlaces: Transcripción You're at your first Aussie sports match. The crowd is shouting, the players are yelling — and you're doing your best to understand... but it all sounds so weird! Hi, I'm Dr. Howie Manns. I study language and how people use it. After moving to Australia, I fell in love with AFL football. But I was shocked by the way Aussies talk about sport — on and off the field. It isn't always polite. But once I understood it, I found more ways to join in the fun. Not-so-polite passion for sport In Australia, being a little rude during sport is part of the game. Let's start with cricket. Back in 1877, Australia and Britain played their first official Test series. Australia shocked Britain by holding them to a draw — and then winning the Third Test. Tensions rose. At one match, a controversial umpire call led to an Aussie crowd storming the field. A British player called them 'Sons of convicts!' This moment tells us two key things: Australians love the underdog. And we don't always play it cool under pressure. Sledging and sportsmanship One of Australia's most famous sports terms is sledging — on-field banter meant to distract or intimidate your opponent. The term came about in the 1960s or '70s, likely from the word 'sledgehammer' (as in, 'subtle as a sledgehammer'). Sledging can be friendly — or harsh. Cricket legend Shane Warne (a.k.a. Warnie) said it's about timing, and not every sledge is meant to hurt. Footy talk: Aussie rules and colourful language I'm an AFL fan — go, Doggies — so let's talk footy. We've called it 'Aussie Rules' since World War I. In fact, we started saying 'Aussie' around the same time. Footy is full of expressive phrases: 'Give him the don't argue' – a player pushes away an opponent with an outstretched arm. 'Selling the candy' – faking out an opponent by pretending to pass. 'Blinder' – a spectacular play or performance. We even name moments after athletes. Steven Bradbury became a legend by winning gold when everyone else fell. Now we say someone 'did a Bradbury' if they win unexpectedly. And of course, there's the chant: 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!' Made famous during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Underdogs, jokes, and 'a bit of a hit' Aussies love a humble winner. Even top athletes downplay their success in interviews. We love the underdog — and we love not taking ourselves too seriously. If a game's just for fun, we might say: 'Just having a bit of a hit' or 'a bit of a knock.' That phrase — 'a bit of' — is uniquely Aussie. It shows we're being casual, playful, even self-deprecating. Sport is everywhere — even at work Sport is more than play in Australia — it's part of the culture. It shows up in everyday talk and even in the office. 'Opening the batting' = starting a meeting 'Shirtfront' = confronting someone head-on (even in politics) 'Handball' = passing a task on to someone else Whether on the field or in the boardroom, Aussies love a bit of slang and banter. Sport connects us Sport connects Australians — even when we disagree about the game. We joke with teammates. We cheer in the stands. We argue about the score at the pub. This shared language makes us feel like part of a team — on and off the field. Language keeps evolving Aussie English is always changing. New words arrive. Old ones fade. And our sports language reflects that evolution. Understanding the past — from sledging to shirtfronts — helps us feel more at home here. So stay curious. Because sometimes, those weird sports words can open the door to a wonderful life in Australia. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
England's Harry Brook and his uneasy relationship with India
Perhaps it should not have come as too much of a surprise to see Mohammed Siraj aiming a verbal barrage at Harry Brook during his helter-skelter performance on his home ground. The dark art of sledging — usually bowlers letting batters know exactly what they think of them— is less common than it once was in these days of cricketers from opposing countries becoming more and more familiar with each other in franchise competitions. Advertisement But England's white-ball captain is something of a rarity in having an uneasy relationship with the most powerful country in cricket, which was evident in Siraj's outburst and India's joyous celebrations when they dismissed him one run short of a century in the first Test. This was an eventful first Test innings against India for England's gifted 26-year-old. There were spectacular shots in front of an appreciative Headingley audience as England galloped along at close to five runs an over, throwing away many of their wickets along the way, as is their wont, before eventually being dismissed six runs short of India's 471. But there was also a large helping of good fortune for Brook, who would have been dismissed without scoring on the second evening had Jasprit Bumrah not overstepped. He was also dropped twice on the third day. The sub-plot on another compelling day of fast and furious modern Test cricket was Brook's clash with Siraj after launching an assault on the Indian opening bowler, who conceded 29 runs in two overs with the second new ball. The often-aggressive Siraj had plenty to say to Brook after one audacious shot flew towards the boundary. He offered more words of wisdom at the end of the over after being shooed away by Brook in a gesture that suggested he should concentrate on his bowling. It was not enough to incur the ire of the umpires, but it was further evidence that Brook is not exactly the most popular player on the sub-continent, where cricketers of his talent and standing are normally revered. Not that Brook's late withdrawal from England's five-Test tour of India at the start of last year is held against him, because he pulled out to be with his grandmother, Pauline, who was seriously ill and subsequently passed away. It is more that he has twice pulled out of the Indian Premier League, the richest and glitziest competition in cricket, after being signed up on lucrative contracts. The second time this year was to prioritise his international commitments, which has potentially earned him a two-year IPL ban. Advertisement When he has played in India, in his one IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad and with England in limited-overs cricket, Brook's tendency to live up to the stereotype of the blunt-talking Yorkshireman has hardly endeared him. Brook struggled in Hyderabad after being signed for more than £1million in 2023, apart from one stunning hundred, which he saw as an opportunity to silence his critics. 'There are a lot of Indian fans who would probably say well done tonight, but they were slagging me off a few days ago, so I was glad I could shut them up, to be honest,' said Brook after his pyrotechnics against Kolkata Knight Riders. Kolkata was in Brook's sights again in January when he suggested England had struggled to pick spinner Varun Chakravarthy during a seven-wicket defeat in the first Twenty20 international because of smog. When he was then dismissed by Chakravarthy later in the same series, Indian commentator Ravi Shastri could not resist pointing out with glee: 'There's no smog here!' At least Sunday's clashes might act as something of a dress rehearsal for Brook for when he arrives in Australia this winter for the biggest series of them all, the Ashes. That straight-talking wound up a few Australians during the Ashes of 2023 when Brook claimed a 'moral victory' for England when rain washed out the Old Trafford Test with England in a strong position. So Brook can expect plenty of the short-pitched bowling that has been a strength and a weakness for him in his rapid rise to the top of international cricket when he walks out at Perth for the first Test in November. And it will be quicker than that of the sharp but not express Prasidh Krishna, who lured Brook into pulling straight into the waiting hands of Shardul Thakur on 99, only the 14th Englishman in Test history to be dismissed for one of the most agonising scores in cricket. That extra run always means so much. Advertisement Brook put his hand to his face in almost comedic style and leant back in frustration while India roared their approval. Another hour of Brook would have put England firmly in front, but as it stands, with rain ending the third day with India 90-2, a lead of 96, this first Test is evenly poised and living up to its promise as one of the biggest and most important series in cricket.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says Willie Rioli ban has put players on notice over sledging
Port Adelaide Ken Hinkley says the AFL has issued a 'warning' and opposition players 'won't go there' when it comes to sledging Willie Rioli in the wake of his one-match ban for delivering on and off-field threats to three opponents in the past 12 months. Rioli withdrew from Saturday's showdown against the Adelaide Crows in the wake of an AFL investigation that landed on the ban having initially issued just a warning after revelations he sent a message to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale warning him to be careful in Darwin this week. The AFL became aware of multiple instances involving the small forward who declared it was 'best for me and the team that I take the break'. Port chairman David Koch declared the club was 'incredibly angry' with Rioli but pointed to regular racial abuse as a base for his reactions. He could return for next week's clash with Geelong, confronting Cats star Brad Close, who was reportedly the victim of an on-field threat in 2024. With that in mind, Hinkley, who conceded Rioli had to 'get better' with his on-field behaviour and limited his involvement in the saga to 'giving care to Willie', cautioned against any opponents taking his player on given the fallout this week. 'I would doubt that anyone would go there with the stance the AFL has put in place around comments said on the field,' Hinkley said at his weekly press conference, which was moved to Friday as the club dealt with the Rioli situation. 'I just don't think you would go there. Willie will get our support like he always has and Willie also has to learn. He knows that and he has publicly said that, he has to get better.' Hinkley said he felt like the penalty was a 'warning' to players but also that he wasn't sure where the 'boundaries are' when it comes to player interactions. 'It's going to be some area of some concern for the AFL,' he said. Hinkley said he was fully supportive of the position having left the handling of the situation to his football boss, Chris Davies. 'I have been in this job for a long period of time and continually and do see and hear different things that get done and said,' he said. 'All I want to do is say I fully support our club's position, I couldn't support it any stronger.' Rioli was absent from Port's captain's run on Friday and Hinkley said the forward had to 'own the consequences' of his actions, and a potential return against Geelong was not at the forefront of his mind ahead of the clash with the Crows. 'From my point of view the most important thing is Willie is OK and he's under control,' he said. 'We will support him and put his arms around him. He made a mistake, he knows that and he owns that and the consequences are known to everyone, so we move forward knowing that we are going to look after Willie.'
