England paceman Stuart Broad is refusing to rise to Australia opener David Warner's declaration of "war" as Joe Root's men prepare to fly out to defend the Ashes. The pugnacious Warner said earlier this month he would "dig deep to get some hatred" for the England team ahead of the series, adding: "As soon as you step on that line its war."

Like Warner, Broad is familiar with the hostilities of the old rivalry but as England prepare to head Down Under, he is keeping calm. "I don't have to hate them," he told the Daily Telegraph. "It's a game of cricket, not war." The Australian public urged on by coach Darren Lehmann, heckled Broad throughout the 2013/14 series over his failure to walk for a clear nick in the previous series in England - during which Warner was the designated villain after throwing a pre-series punch at Root.

Stuart Broad "Because I knew it was coming, we prepared for it," said Broad.  Who’d had dog's abuse from the Old Trafford crowd, 'they wouldn't be abusing you if they didn't respect you'. "Whether Aussies meant it that way, that's how I decided to take it. They were only doing it because they were scared of me."

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