Sledging in cricket is mostly banter and i've never heard of any coloured player receiving racist abuse. Anyone giving it large to someone like Viv Richards would get short shrift.My lad is big into his rugby league & plays (between injuries) for a local team. You think rugby is a game for thugs but they have a saying that "Rugby is a game for hooligans which is played by gentlemen. Cricket is a game for gentlemen which is played by hooligans".
Another saying is "what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch", which goes a long way towards any bad feelings not following on after the game. They also enjoy a lot of what is called "sledging" which I'm sure happens in all team sports. All through a game they are slagging each other off attempting to rile the other team, my personal favourite is "Hey up mate, long time no see, how's your missus . . . & my kids"
Most games I've watched have been multi-cultural, my lads team have just the one BIG black dude whose nickname is MEAT. Asking my lad if he ever gets the N word sledged at him my lad told me he does occasionally, he won't react in any way but the fullbacks know how to break ribs & someone isn't going to work to tomorrow.
The one you refer to was the 'sledge' given to Ian Botham by Rodney Marsh. "How's your wife and my kids?" asked the Aussie, to which Beefy replied "the wife's fine but the kids are retarded."
At another match, one of the Aussies at slip, can't recall his name, asked Botham why he was so fat. "Every time i f**k your wife she gives me a biscuit." was his retort.