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Broad to reprise Ashes villain role

He was public enemy No.1 the last time England toured Australia, and the quick is happy to take on the tag once again

England strike bowler Stuart Broad is urging Australians to again cast him as a villain.

Broad says the hostile crowd treatment he cops in Australia spurs him on, as does being sledged by Australia's cricketers.


Broad was painted Australian cricket's public enemy No.1 from the moment he refused to walk when blatantly edging a catch which rebounded from the wicketkeeper to first slip in a 2013 Test at Trent Bridge.

And the veteran quick revels in the role, hoping Australians continue the treatment in the Magellan Ashes series starting in Brisbane on November 23.

"I'm an Englishman in Australia, it's only natural to expect that," Broad told reporters.

"It's actually a really exciting prospect because not often do you walk out on a sports field ... to a really hostile environment. You walk out and go 'whoa, I'm alive here, this is what it's all about'.

"It's part of the reason why the Ashes is so special.

From the Ashes: Stuart Broad - Brisbane 2013

"But if you can't deal with that, should you be playing top level sport?"

The 109-Test veteran said the edgy Ashes environments brought out the best in him - he has claimed more Test wickets against Australia (84) than against any other nation.

"I love it," he said.

"I'm probably the worst warm-up game bowler in the world - I need that extra bit of spice in games ... that niggle in games, that competitive spirit, that is what I play for.

"And I think that's why I have probably saved some of my best performances for Ashes series."

Broad said he was trying to instill his competitive Ashes instincts into his English teammates.



"To make it to the top level a lot of people are naturally competitive anyway," he said.

"You look around at most of the best cricketers that I've been a fan of, like the (Glenn) McGraths, the Steve Waughs, the Darren Goughs, people like this - they are always in a battle.

"They're never happy with the opposition just having an easy time.

"We lost the Ashes for pretty much my whole childhood because the Aussies probably had more competitive characters.

"But when the likes of KP (Kevin Pietersen) came around, Matt Prior, Michael Vaughan, Paul Collingwood, these sort of guys who stood up to the Australians, looked them in the eye and said `we're here for a battle', we have had more success in Ashes series.".


2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21