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London - Australia great Shane Warne has told England new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad to expect plenty of "sledging", or verbal abuse, to come their way during the upcoming Ashes series.
Anderson has contrasted the sporting atmosphere which prevailed during England's recent series with New Zealand to the 'needle' that existed during the last Ashes campaign, which Australia won 5-0 on home soil in 2013/14.
Infamously told by Australia captain Michael Clarke to "get ready for a broken fucking arm" during the first Test in Brisbane while batting as a tailender, Anderson said he hoped the latest series between the arch-rivals could be played in the same spirit as England's series with New Zealand.
"That was a really positive series and the nature of both sides' cricket was helped by the spirit the game was played in," said Anderson.
Koalas round eucalyptus tree
However, retired leg-spin star Warne, in a column for Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, wrote: "Are you for real Jimmy? Seriously! This is the Ashes and I can tell Jimmy now that he is going to cop it from the Aussies more than anyone. When he's batting, it will be 11 against one in the middle.
"I reckon Michael Clarke and his team will carry on from the last (Ashes) series and give it to Jimmy and Stuart Broad."
Warne added: "There isn't anyone in world cricket who doesn't know about Stuart Broad's concerns with the short ball.
"When either of those two (Anderson and Broad) bat, the Aussie fielders will be like koalas round a eucalyptus tree."
Meanwhile Broad, in comments given to British newspapers published on Sunday, said England would not win the Ashes by "out-sledging" Australia.
"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," Broad said.
New coach
"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," he added.
Broad said the fact that England had recently appointed Australian Trevor Bayliss as their new coach would give the series an extra edge.
"I love the fact he's Australian and could potentially take the Ashes away from Australia," said Broad.
The first Ashes Test starts in Cardiff on July 8.
