England’s Jonny Bairstow has insisted he will “take matters further” if Australia “cross the line” with their sledging in the third Test.
Wicketkeeper Bairstow has struggled with the bat, having a top score of 42 from four innings, and said he was the target of verbal abuse during the first Test in Brisbane.
“Some other things, apart from the ‘headbutt’ business, were said by Australia in the middle but what they were is staying there,” he said in the Daily Mail.
“The second Test was played in a good spirit, tough but fair. There were some verbals from both teams but this time nothing crossed the line.
“Clashes like we saw in Adelaide are part of sport. I’m not making an issue of it. Only if they are said again would the matter go further.
“We move on. Hopefully it’s gone now. We just need to get on with trying to get back in this series.”
Bairstow has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons over a headbutting incident with Australia Test opener Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar early on England’s tour.
He insisted there was no malice intended and it had been blown out of proportion.
“I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong and, more importantly, the team and management knew that too,” he said.
“How can I describe it? Boys being boys, I guess. But there was minimal contact, I can tell you that.
“No offence was taken and, talking to some of the Australian boys, they didn’t know anything about it until just before some of their players made comments to me about it during the Test at the Gabba.
“Those comments were picked up by a stump microphone and suddenly it had snowballed.”
