Stuart Broad: “He’s already talked about the Ashes being like a war for him and we can use that to help us”
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England seamer Stuart Broad has said that his side will use Australia opener David Warner’s comments to fuel themselves during the Ashes.
Warner has already compared the series to “war” and called on Australia to find “some sort of hatred” for England.
While the Test vice-captain has since gone on to say that he regrets the remarks he made, Broad is hoping that Warner’s comments come back to haunt him during the series.
“It is a common theme that ex-Australian players and Australia players are quite vocal in the media,” Broad was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “It is just one of the tactics they use. I am surprised we haven’t heard the ‘Glenn McGrath 5-0’ yet and we are six weeks away!
“Warner’s a very competitive guy. He’s someone that likes to get in the battle. He’s already talked about the Ashes being like a war for him and we can use that to help us.
“It’s generally the English way to be a bit quieter and just get on with our jobs and make sure we’re ready for the 23rd because at the end of the day, what is said before the series doesn’t affect whether you hit the top of off stump or hit the ball for four does it?”
With England heading Down Under on Saturday, Broad insists that the side have been focused on the impending clash with Australia and retaining the coveted urn.
However, when England leave for Australia, they will do so without all-rounder Ben Stokes as he has withdrawn from the Ashes squad for his alleged involvement in a street fight outside a nightclub in Bristol last month.
“The Ashes tour is the biggest one you can go on,” Broad said. “We’re just desperate to get to Australia and let it begin really.
“Everyone’s been very focused in their training. There’s been a lot of talk between us on the WhatsApp group to make sure we push ourselves in the right direction and I’m a firm believer that when you go to Australia, there’s always outside influences that try to knock you off a path.
“But if you stay really focused on your discipline, your end goal, and how we’re going to go and play over there we stand a great chance. We’re a bit unpredictable but so are the Australians so I think it’s set up to be a brilliant series.”
The Ashes will be Joe Root’s first series abroad as Test captain, but given that England beat South Africa 3-1 and the West Indies 2-1 this summer, Broad has backed the 26-year-old to lead England to Ashes glory.
“We’ve won two Test match series under Joe,” he said. “There were question marks before he took over whether it would effect his batting, but I think 180 in his first innings put that to bed so you know what a talented player he is.
“I think someone like him with the extra responsibilities on the pitches in Australia will score a lot of runs and if your captain leads you in that way, it’s a lot easier for your players to follow.”
Going into the Ashes as England’s second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format, Broad opened up on his plan of attack when the ball is put in his hand.
“In Australia you have to hit the pitch as hard as you possibly can. You look at McGrath and he did that consistently,” the 31-year-old was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. “I’ve been watching some YouTube videos of him bowling in Australia, visualising how to get wickets as a tall bowler. You have to have periods where you look to rough batsmen up a little bit, sure, but a lot of wickets fall from that fuller length.
“In the past, if we’ve made a mistake in Australia it’s been to bowl too short, so you get cut and pulled off length.
“This time, I will be making a conscious effort to bring batsmen forward, just like we did as a unit through last summer. Try to expose any movement by getting them on the front foot would be my message.
“Jimmy Anderson and I pride ourselves on adapting to the pitch quicker than the opening batsmen. When you are playing away that’s harder, but we know certain types of bowling can prosper. Ryan Harris had a lot of success in Australia. How? He pitched the ball up at good pace.”