Gabba barrage 'made me' as a player: Broad

Stuart Broad might well expect another hostile reception later this year when the old enemy kick off their 2017-18 Ashes campaign at the Gabba. But Brisbane locals, be warned; the England fast bowler says the relentless campaign against him during the 2013-14 series only made him better.

Having controversially been given not out during the preceding 2013 Ashes series in England after edging one to slip at Trent Bridge, Broad became public enemy number one for the return leg Down Under.

Shirts and singlets emblazoned with the declaration that 'Stuart Broad is a 's--t' bloke' were seen all around the country, while the local Brisbane daily newspaper refused to call him by name, referring to him simply as the '27-year-old medium-pace bowler'.

But the right-armer put all of that out of his mind as England began their campaign, picking up five victims on the opening day of the series and finishing with 6-81 for the innings.

And while Mitchell Johnson's golden 37-wicket Ashes summer led Australia to a 5-0 series whitewash, Broad, one of the few standouts for England with 21 wickets across the five matches, insists the tour was career defining.

"I think that actually helped make me as a cricketer," Broad, fresh off his recent KFC Big Bash League stint with the Hobart Hurricanes, told ESPN. "It made me quite a steely character. 

"It made me know how to deal with crowd pressure, be able to put crowd pressure to the side and work on your performance. 

"To walk away with that sort of reaction but with a six-fa after the first day (of the opening Test) was a pleasing feeling. 

"Because I told myself that I can deal with everything externally that's thrown at me and deliver at the top level (with) a good performance. 

"It's a hostile place to play and I actually played there in the Big Bash against Brisbane, a very pro-Brisbane Heat crowd. 

"I got a little bit of crowd interaction but certainly not as much as I did in an England shirt."

Quick Single: Broad coy on England captaincy

Broad has been touted as a potential successor to Alastair Cook as Test captain after the side's all-time leading run-scorer announced his resignation from the role. 

Joe Root however remains the most likely man to lead England onto the Gabba for the first Ashes Test on November 23.

Either way, Broad looms as one of England's most important players for the series and while he's well aware of Australia's strength on their home turf, the 30-year-old believes the likes of Root and Ben Stokes will pose a major threat to the hosts.

"I know that I'm a competitive bloke, I know that I thrive in competitive conditions and situations, and there's no better situation than an Ashes series away from home," Broad said.

"So (the upcoming Ashes) is a hugely exciting challenge for us. We're building a team that I think will challenge Australia in Australia. 

"Having spent a bit of time over there this (northern) winter, they're a phenomenal team in their own conditions. 

"But when you have players of the likes of Root and Stokes coming through, (Jos) Buttler's such a dangerous talent with the bat. 

"We've got guys who are delivering on the big stage and have got guys who have been there and done that. 

"We're growing as a team and I think this is an exciting Test match team to follow over the few years."