Even as they prepare for the final showdown in Margao, on Friday, the war of words between the Indian and Australian cricket teams intensified today with the Indians formally complaining to the match referee against sledging by the visitors.

Under attack from the Australians for his conduct through the current series, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was characteristically blunt when he told reporters "Why can't you people write about their behaviour? You are as (much an) Indian as I am."

Ganguly has been criticised for keeping his Australian counterpart waiting for the toss on many occasions during this series and also for wrongfully claiming to have won the toss in the third one-dayer at Indore.

Team manager Chetan Chauhan said the Indians had taken up the matter of sledging with match referee Cammie Smith. "We have complained to the match referee and he has called a meeting of captains, coaches and managers of both teams," Chauhan said, adding the gestures and words spoken by the Aussies were not good for the game. He, however, refused to elaborate on specific charges.

"I cannot do that as we are bound by a certain code of conduct, but I am sure you people have been witnessing what has been happening," he said. "Throughout this series, these things (gestures and exchange of words) are happening which, I feel, is not good." Smith, however, declined to comment on the issue. "I am yet to meet the concerned parties," he said.

© PTI