24 Feb 2012

Kirsten disappointed with NZ cricketers' verbal tactics

4:19 pm on 24 February 2012

The amount of on-field verbal abuse by the New Zealand cricketers appears to be bothering South Africa's coach Gary Kirsten.

The Proteas captain AB de Villiers says they don't need to remind the Black Caps about how they folded in the final Twenty20 match in Auckland.

Allrounder Jacques Khallis though has indicated the South Africans won't be averse to reminding the home side of the series result, when the one day series begins in Wellington on Saturday.

The issue of sledging has clearly touched a nerve with Kirsten, who says the bulk of the abuse is coming from the New Zealanders.

He believes the Black Caps have decided to use sledging as a tactic to unsettle the visitors but they're not interested in getting into a verbal battle and simply need to be able to handle it.