Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine has denied South Africa’s claims that the Kangaroos indulged in personal sledging and stated that it was 100 percent false. Stating that Quinton de Kock’s family was never mentioned, Paine asserted that nothing inappropriate was said. This was after Australia’s deputy skipper David Warner got into an unpleasant stairwell altercation with Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock after an on-field argument.

Speaking to reporters in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, Tim said, “At no stage was Quinton’s family mentioned, that’s 100% false. I don’t know how their team manager [Mohammed Moosajee] can hear from where he’s sitting, but from where I was, which was right nearby the whole time, there was nothing we said that was inappropriate.”

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He further elaborated, “We were trying to make it an uncomfortable place for Quinton to bat, no doubt, but we didn’t cross the line. We spoke about cricket stuff and a few little things with his fitness. Our stuff is the way we’ve always played our cricket. Certainly, it’s hard, and we like to make them feel uncomfortable out there. But we don’t cross the line and bring people’s wives and family into the cricket game. And we’ll continue to do that for as long as we play.”

Explaining the incident further, Paine said, “Obviously the situation wasn’t ideal for both sides and it was regrettable what happened up the stairs, but it’s disappointing that they’ve come out now and said a few things that are just blatantly untrue.”

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Paine also acknowledged the fact that De Kock had indeed brought up the topic of Warner’s wife and alleged that he could not say what would have happened had the two players got any closer. As quoted in Cricbuzz, Tim said, “I don’t know what would have happened to be honest, but he was certainly extremely fired up and he had every right to be. I think at the time when it was actually said [about Warner’s wife], I think I was probably the only person that heard it.”