The Australian media has hailed home coach Darren Lehmann's rejection of English counterpart Andy Flower's offer of an olive branch over the sledging issue in the ongoing Ashes and has branded it as a 'sensible move'.
According to News.com.au, when a cricket coach has to think about making sledging rules with his rival mentor, it means that there is something wrong, adding that once a thing is put on paper, it is easy to become a prisoner of that issue.
The report mentioned that coaches should not have make up rules on the run about a subject with so many shades of black, white and grey as sledging in the first place, adding that cricket world in general is up for a bit of rough and tumble in this Ashes series which has the potential to rejuvenate the game in this country.
Stating that perception is reality in the modern world, the report also said that to the viewer, pointed fingers are often more offensive than pointed word, adding that over the years, Australia's best sledgers often did their finest work without even moving towards the batsman.
The only certainty this series is that will be plenty more chatter, the report concluded.