Root not seeing funny side of Smith's chuckles

England have worked themselves into apoplexy over Australia captain Steve Smith's laughter at the deadpan comedy delivery by Test debutant Cameron Bancroft in the wake of Jonny Bairstow's headbutt furore

In a Magellan Ashes series that is becoming increasingly heated after England seamer James Anderson vowed to retaliate to Australia's "bullies", England skipper Joe Root has vowed to use Smith's chuckles as extra motivation in the day-night Test that starts on Saturday.

Smith struggled to contain himself while sitting alongside Bancroft during the post-match press conference following the first Test, which Australia won by 10 wickets.

Bancroft had almost the entire room in stitches with his deadpan delivery, claiming he has the heaviest head in WA's squad while recalling the night Bairstow headbutted him in a bizarre greeting ritual in a Perth bar.

But Root was far from impressed with the hysterical conduct of Smith.

"If that's not motivation to the players I don't know what is. Seriously," Root told reporters on the eve of the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

"Hopefully that will work massively in our favour.

"I know it's an Ashes series, there is a lot on the line and naturally you are going to be motivated.

"But, knowing the characters in our dressing room, that will really give them a bit of something else to make sure we put things right this week."

Root also took a swipe at the hosts' on-field conduct in Brisbane, where Bairstow was sledged about his clash with Bancroft at a Perth bar.

"It's never nice when your person is questioned and your actions are taken out of context," Root said.

"Their line and our line are slightly different things.

"That's not how we roll."

Serial sledger Anderson, who is acting vice-captain in the absence of suspended allrounder Ben Stokes, vowed to fire back with some verbals in the day-night Test.

"For me, I am not going to take abuse from David Warner or anyone else and not have a word back," he wrote in a column for UK newspaper The Telegraph.

"Australia were taking the mickey out of England after the first Test (in the post-match press conference) and it was infuriating to listen to and watch.

"All it did was make us more determined to ensure we come here ready for a battle."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

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

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

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

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

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

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

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

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

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

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

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21