JAMES Anderson believes talk of a sledging epidemic in cricket is being overplayed, with the problem no worse than it has ever been in the game.

England’s Burnley-born seamer also played down talk of introducing a card system, something his England team-mate Joe Root gave tentative backing to earlier to in the week.

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Sledging is back in the headlines following a series of spats between Australia and India, with repeat offender David Warner fined 50 per cent of his match fee for a run-in with Rohit Sharma last weekend.

The issue of verbal spats is increasingly becoming the game’s cause celebre, with former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe proposing a yellow and red card system and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew chiding Australia for failing to uphold higher standards following Phillip Hughes’ tragic death.

But Anderson doesn’t believe current standards are worse than before.

“I don’t think at the moment there is any more sledging than there’s been in the history of cricket - it’s something that’s gone on for years and years,” the former Burnley club bowler said.

“There’s a spotlight on it a little bit more, with stump mics and lots of cameras on the ground.

“But of course there’s a line and I think all players are aware of that.

“I’m not sure about (a card system). At the moment if you cross that line the umpires are within their rights to give either a fine or a ban. For me, I don’t want to get fined or banned so I’m more than happy with that rather than cards.”

Anderson knows better than most about potential sanctions currently available to the ICC.

He was cleared of a serious misconduct charge last summer following an incident with Ravindra Jadeja in the Trent Bridge pavilion, averting a possible four-game ban.

For the remainder of that India series Anderson preferred to give opposing batsmen the silent treatment, but he still sees a place for a well-placed barb.

“I don’t think it should disappear from the game. I think it’s quite entertaining when it’s done in the right manner,” he said.

“I think guys have got to use their heads a little bit and be a bit smart about what is said on the field, if anything is said at all.

“But you don’t want to take away the aggression from teams.”

The ICC has warned players that on-field spats will not be tolerated at the World Cup, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand during February and March.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said: “Over the last six months there have been too many examples of player behaviour going too far.

“Since then, we have done a lot of work with our umpires and match referees to ensure they are much more proactive in terms of policing behaviour on the field.

“For the World Cup it will be no different - and at all pre-event briefings with the teams, the match referees will be making sure that message is delivered loud and clear.”

Anderson took 4-18 in a crushing win over India in the tri-series in Australia on Tuesday. England face Australia tomorrow.