In the August edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly leading writers were asked to give their opinion on sledging. In the fourth part of the series, Harsha Bhogle adds to the debate Only recently have India's cricketers learnt to give as they take. The new generation of Indian players is more aggressive in every sense, more self-assured and more aware of the ways of the world. That is sad, but inevitable. Sledging should have no place in their lives, or anybody else's.

For years India's children went to school reading Jawaharlal Nehru's old line "play the game in the spirit of the game". The best cricketers were also those who behaved impeccably. To fight and squabble was considered boorish. India's middle class places great value on honour and family; families have been split and relationships broken forever on account of a loose word. Call it what you will; ego, vanity or just a way of life.

The idea that you can call someone, or worse still his parents (the mother is the most revered of Indian institutions) horrible names and expect to have a laugh over a drink in the evening is alien and I hope it remains that way. To pass it off as a "cultural" thing is to seek the legitimacy of a wider, less precisely defined umbrella for something that is just plain bad behaviour.

Sadly, children around the world are learning to sledge before they can bowl. And Australia, who have given much joy with their cricket, have much to answer.

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