SLEDGING is even more part of cricket at local level than it is at the highest level according to Gary Neville.

In his TMS interview Neville recalled how he had been subtely intimidated by West Indian fast bowler Steve Dublin in a match between Greenmount and Kearsley.

Neville was then a 14-year-old batsman facing Dublin, who shouted to team-mate Lenny Kerr: “How old is he?”. Kerr replied: “He’s old enough.” Neville said: “I’m sure it was a conversation I was meant to hear.

“I remember playing the first shot, thinking, this guy’s going to knock my head off.

“But it was part of growing up and learning to be tough. In football you don’t have that one-on-one experience because you’re playing against children of your own age.”

Neville also admitted that it was his will to win which prompted him not to walk after nicking the ball playing for his school team on 49.

“I was selfish,” he said. “I didn’t think my grandparents, who watched me a lo,t would be proud of me. But I wanted to win.”