Australia bowler Peter Siddle has insisted that harmful verbal attacks are "natural" in Test cricket and will continue to take place throughout the current Ashes series against England.
The first Test was dominated by heated rows that resulted in Baggy Greens captain Michael Clarke being hit with a fine for "using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match".
The 32-year-old was caught by a stump microphone saying to James Anderson that he should "get ready for a broken f***ing arm" during England's second innings at The Gabba, while Shane Warne also claimed that the Three Lions man is guilty of abusing George Bailey.
"It's just natural. It wasn't any different to normal. If it hadn't of been on the mic a lot people would not have said so much about it," Siddle told Radio Sports National.
"The most disappointing thing is that it actually came up [on the broadcast]. It's not meant to at that time and it is very stiff for Michael. Throughout the series there will be more of it going on but it will be under control. Anderson brought it on himself. So fair's fair.
"There was a lot of other stuff going on and James Anderson was in the thick of it and a culprit for it all happening. He is one of the leading wicket-takers in the world so he is happy to have a chirp but as long as Mitchell Johnson keeps bowling them around his ears that will quieten him up pretty quickly."
The second Test in Adelaide gets underway on December 5.
