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Flintoff: Cullinan worst sledger

Cape Town - The "speak English" controversy may not have been a good look for David Warner, but former England captain Andrew Flintoff reckons sledging was much worse in his day.

VIDEO: Must watch! Andrew Flintoff impersonates the 'King'


According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), International Cricket Council (ICC) boss David Richardson has issued a warning in light of Warner's latest on-field spat, saying the world body will come down hard on players who verbally abused their opponents at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.

Warner has come under fire for his flare-up with India's Rohit Sharma during their ODI in Melbourne on Sunday, in which he repeatedly asked his rival to "speak English".

However, all-rounder Flintoff - fresh from his KFC T20 Big Bash League stint with Brisbane Heat - believed today's on-field banter paled in insignificance to his baptism of fire.

"Twenty years ago, sledging was 10 times worse," he told BBC Sport.

"Now, with stump microphones and cameras all over, everything gets picked up.

"One of the first Test matches I played against South Africa, there was one fella ... he was the worst I have ever come across - Daryll Cullinan.

"He was horrible. I was only young... the words he called me, I didn't even know what they meant.

"He just went at me and I don't think there's any place for that in any sport or any society."


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