Anderson will ‘cop it’ in Ashes, says Warne

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,” Anderson said Wednesday.

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 <g data-gr-id="25">cop</g> 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.”