The Ashes is more than just a cricketing war between England and Australia. The coveted five-inch trophy is contested for in full fervour, but inevitably, words are exchanged between the players.

Here’s a look at some of the wittiest, game-changing and hilarious sledges of all time in Ashes Cricket.

The Former English skipper Nasser Hussain turned out to be a thorn in the Aussie Flesh in the 1997 Ashes in England. As he walked out to be bat in one of the games, Steve Waugh had sent Ricky Ponting to field at silly point when he presumably said “Right Under Nasser’s Nose”, to which the quirky Ian Healy added “That could be anywhere inside a three-mile radius!”

[tps_title]Nasser Hussain To Justin Langer.[/tps_title]

Hussain took a lot of banter from Aussies over many Ashes series but was quite annoyed by Justin Langer, who just wouldn’t stay quiet at silly point. “I don’t mind this lot chirping at me but you’re just the bus driver,” Hussain said.

[tps_title]Shane Warne to Paul Collingwood[/tps_title]

The 2005 Ashes was a fairytale for the English, as the Micheal Vaughan led England side won their first Ashes at home since 1985, but the strong Aussie side had legends in the twilight of their career.

Paul Collingwood, who had scored scored seven and ten in the only Test he played at the Oval was greeted by Warne, who said, “You got an MBE, right? For scoring seven at The Oval? That’s embarrassing.”

[tps_title]Phil Tuffnel to the Umpire[/tps_title]

At times, the sheer magnitude of the Ashes stage takes over, and a great example of this came in the 1990-91 Ashes in Australia when Phil Tuffnel trapped Dean Jones plumb in front only to be turned down by the Umpire to which the enraged Tuffnel said, “Are you bloody blind?”, to which the Umpire responded“I beg your pardon?” Tuffnel hilariously replied, “Are you f***ing deaf as well?”

[tps_title]Dennis Lillee to Mike Gatting[/tps_title]

One of the all time Ashes greats Dennis Lillee bowled over plenty of English batsman in his time. The 1981 Ashes in England was a thrilling one, although the English team outplayed the Aussies to win it 3-1, Dennis Lillee produced some scintillating spells throughout the series. He also had something to say to a particularly large batsman in Mike Gatting. “Hell, Gatt, move out of the way, I can’t see the stumps,” he said.

[tps_title]Robin Smith to Merv Hughes[/tps_title]

Australia came back strongly to dominate the Ashes at home after the 1985-86 series in Australia. The period from 1986 to 2005 saw the Aussies win all the Ashes series and most them quite comprehensively.

Merv Hughes, the burly Australian fast bowler was given one of the most wittiest replies by Robin Smith, who had just walked out to bat when the big Hughes couldn’t keep quiet. He said, “You can’t f***ing bat.” The calm Smith played a nonchalant square drive off Hughes only to reply, “Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can’t f***ing bat and you can’t f***ing bowl.”

[tps_title]Craig McDermont to Phil Tuffnel[/tps_title]

Tuffnel had just bowled MCDermont over to end the Australian innings in one of the Ashes Test matches in Australia in 1993. He was supposed feeling quite proud to take the final wicket when McDermont said, “You’ve got to bat on this in a minute, Tuffers. Hospital food suit you?”

[tps_title]Merv Hughes To Graham Gooch[/tps_title]

Merv Hughes was at it once again and this time it was the great Graham Gooch who was at the receiving end. It was the twilight of Gooch’s career when Hughes sent a few down whizzing past Gooch’s bat. Hughes said, “I’ll get you a f***ing piano you Pommie poofta. Let’s see if you can play that.”

[tps_title]Ian Botham to Rodney Marsh[/tps_title]

Any Ashes story would be incomplete without the mention of Ian ‘Beefy’ Botham. The Aussies had to find a way beyond Beefy and the then wicket keeper Rod Marsh said, “So how’s your wife and my kids?”, to which Botham showed that that he had immense wit apart from his marvellous cricketing skills. “The wife’s fine, the kids are retarded,” he said.

[tps_title]Jimmy Ormond to Mark Waugh[/tps_title]

Jimmy Ormond might have played just two Test matches, but he is regarded as the wittiest cricketers in England.

The Aussies were 3-1 up in the series and had already bagged their seventh straight Ashes on the trot when the Warwickshire bowler got his Test cap.

Ormond came on to bowl and Mark Waugh went up to the youngster to say “F***me, look who it is. Mate, what are you doing out here? There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.”

Ormond casually replied, “Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my family”.