ENGLAND captain Michael Vaughan has described Australia's world-beating cricket team as a bunch of nasty sledgers, singling out Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer as the two worst offenders.
In a book that will add more spice to next winter's Ashes tour, Vaughan also reveals he was laughed at in the streets by Australian children after England was pummeled 4-1 in their 2002-03 visit.
While admitting that was "extremely difficult to take", Vaughan said the onfield barbs from the Australians only fired him up as he smashed 633 runs in five Tests.
"The Aussies know only one way to play -- hard and in your face, particularly in your ears," Vaughan wrote in A Year in the Sun: The Captain's Story.
"(McGrath) is into you all the time and can be quite abusive.
"McGrath's chirps are pretty pathetic, but others are good and amusing.
"Langer is a short guy, a tough little bugger, mentally very strong and typically Australian.
"There were one or two occasions when some of our guys, myself included, had a few words with him on the pitch because we thought he was being a bit of a tit."
The insights have re-opened the sledging debate that has dogged the Australians through their record-breaking run of success, despite public pledges to improve their behaviour. South African captain Graeme Smith revved up the Australians two years ago in a magazine article that portrayed Steve Waugh's team as persistent sledgers.
But Vaughan also hands out plenty of praise in his book.
He described England's arch rivals as perhaps "the best (team) ever" and said not every player sledged him. Captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Darren Lehmann, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee all receive positive reports.
"The pace (Lee) bowls at and his attitude do the game a lot of good," Vaughan wrote.
"You know you are in a real challenge when you face him, but he gives credit when batsmen play well and does not sledge too much.
"He is never nasty, which is more that can be said for some of his colleagues."
Vaughan has high praise for the Australian sports culture, noting the outstanding facilities and government-funded programs that had helped foster world champions across the sporting world.
He said the winning culture made it tough for visiting athletes.
"Australia is not the place for losers," he wrote.
"Even the kids in the street smirk when the see you and occasionally you can hear them laughing behind your back - something I find extremely difficult to take."
- MICHAEL CRUTCHER