ECB chairman Clarke discusses Ashes sledging concerns with CA counterpart

Sydney: The sledging war, which has engulfed the Ashes battle has reached the top echelons, with chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board Giles Clarke admitting he has discussed the matter with his Australian counterpart, according to reports.

According to News.com.au, Clarke, in Hobart on Monday inspecting Blundstone Arena, said he has talked about the on-field heat `at length` with Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards. Several ugly spats between Australia and England players have emerged from the hotly contested series, which Australia wrapped up in Perth last week by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, the report said. It started with Michael Clarke`s `get ready for a broken f---ing arm` comment to James Anderson in Brisbane, which came on the back of Anderson allegedly threatening to punch debutant George Bailey, the report added. Clarke said that the Ashes is an iconic series and the banter will never go away but it is important to play these games in an excellent spirit off the pitch as well as on. Clarke also had no concerns with the sudden retirement of leading spinner Graeme Swann, denying it is a by-product of the tourists` shambolic few weeks, the report further said.