Thaindian News

London, Oct 27(ANI): England fast bowler Stuart Broad has admitted that he can’t wait ‘to throw the first punch’ of verbal taunts during the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

Broad said that it brings out the best in him, and would also provide an edge to his team.

“I’m not thinking about winning the Ashes in January, I’m thinking about that first hour of the First Test in Brisbane - we have to throw the first punch. I have had a few battles in the past. I’m willing to fight my corner,” the Sun quoted Broad, as saying.

“If someone comes at me I’m not going to take it. I’m going to go back at them. That’s built within me. Is that the Broad gene? Probably. In the 2009 Edgbaston Test, Johnson was giving Graeme Swann a lot of grief and I told him simply to shut it and get on with bowling.”

“I enjoy that side of cricket, it gets me pumped up. If I’m batting it makes me more determined not to get out to them and smash anything loose for four,” he added.

Broad further admitted that the Australian supporters would put up a hostile environment, but he said that he is ready to face it.

“Gone are the days of soft England. We want to be seen as men who stand up to it. We know they will come hard at us in their own backyard and we have to expect that from both the players and the crowd,” Broad said.

“I don’t think I will have played these kind of cauldrons, I’m expecting it to be hefty. I think, potentially, it will be like a football crowd that tries to nail the away team at every opportunity.”

“As a bowler you will get stick at fine leg. It’s only banter, so as long as you don’t take it to heart you will be OK,” he added.

England’s tour of Australia gets under way on November 5 with a warm-up game against Western Australia.

The first of the five Ashes Tests will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from November 25 to 29.

It will be followed by Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

The tour also has two Twenty20 clashes and a seven-match ODI series. (ANI)