Stuart Broad claims unfocused England will lose Ashes
Sunday 28 June 2015 08:41, UK
Bowler Stuart Broad claims England will lose the forthcoming Ashes series if they try and match Australia for on-field aggression.
The Australians, who have not won a series on English soil since 2001, were also heavily criticised for their ill-mannered conduct in the seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the World Cup final earlier this year.
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In contrast the Kiwis, on their recent tour of England, have been lauded for their fun approach to the game,
"I'd expect the Aussies to come hard at our players as the success they have had over us in the last series, and in the World Cup, was based around aggression," said Broad.
"We have to be aware that they will be aggressive towards us, but we have to look them in the eye and be up for a battle but I don't think we have to rise to it.
"Michael Clarke telling Jimmy to 'get ready for a broken arm' - that has been in Australian cricket for years and it is not going to change now, but we have to play to our advantages and style.
"You have seen in the past couple of months guys playing with smiles on their faces and playing aggressive, free flowing positive cricket, and that is how we will beat Australia. We won't beat them by out-sledging them."
Broad was looking forward to a four-day training camp with his England team-mates ahead of the first Test beginning in Cardiff on July 8, which provides the 14-man squad their first chance to work alongside Trevor Bayliss, the 52-year-old Australian coach who has succeeded Peter Moores as the head of English cricket.
"I know absolutely nothing about him to be honest", Broad added. "I'm good mates with Michael Lumb who's played for him at Sydney Sixers and he really likes him.
"He thinks he's a really good guy, likes the players to take responsibility, and from what I've heard is a relaxed character in the changing room.
"There's so much pressure around international cricket on the field and off the field that you need your changing room to be a relaxed place, and I think he'll bring a bit of that."
The first Investec Ashes Test is live from Cardiff on our dedicated Sky Sports Ashes channel from Wednesday July 8
