Next time you are on the start line...

It may look like a game for gentlemen, but the great battle for The Ashes has turned up a few beautiful little bits of banter over the years.

So next time you are on the start line, and the oppo's cox decides to be a bit chippy, learn your trade from these few crackers:

1. Adelaide 1991 - Mark Waugh standing at second slip, the new player (Adam Parore)comes to the crease, playing at and missing the first ball.

Waugh - "Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, and you're absolutely useless now".

Parore- (Turning around) "Yeah, that's me. When I was there you were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you've married her. You dumb tw=t".

2. Auckland 1989 - Daryll Cullinan & Shane Warne.
As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been waiting 2 years for another chance to humiliate him.

"Looks like you spent it eating," Cullinan retorted.

And finally...

3. Headingly 1981 - Rod Marsh & Ian Botham.
When Botham took guard in an Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: "So how's your wife & my kids?"

Bring it on!