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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dean Wilson

Stuart Broad's tips to David Warner and Steve Smith on coping with 'hostile' Ashes

Stuart Broad has advised David Warner and Steve Smith to book in with their psychologist to come up with some coping mechanisms for the 'hostile environment' they will face in the Ashes.

And Broad should know what he's talking about after going through something similar on the 2013/14 series Down Under where he was public enemy No.1.

Broad was abused from Brisbane to Sydney and everywhere in between for daring to allow the umpire to do his job during the 2013 series when he edged Ashton Agar to slip and refused to walk.

It hardly covers the same calculated mistake a trio of Aussies made over the more recent ball tampering saga, but there is no doubt that Warner and Smith will be on the receiving end of some hefty noise from a partisan English crowd.

England players play Street Cricket with kids (Tom Shaw/NatWest)
Adil Rashid of England chats to the youngsters (Tom Shaw/NatWest)

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“I think they would be wrong to think that they won't get some hostile environments,” said Broad. “Particularly at Edgbaston, Headingley and Old Trafford which have some of the biggest atmospheres in world cricket.

“They are very experienced players, they have been around the world a lot and played in front of some massive crowds so I don't think that will faze them, but they will need to prepare for it.

“The last thing you want is for it to affect your performance or make you feel nervous about it.

“I look back to the 13/14 Ashes series where I copped quite a lot of abuse, I prepared for it over a period of time and I did certain things with the psychologist to get me used to that level.

“The only thing that made me nervous in that whole series was my mum coming on Boxing Day to the game and I was scared of some of the language she would hear which sounds ridiculous. You just have to brief your family.”

Joe Root of England plays Street Cricket (Tom Shaw/NatWest)
Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, Joe Root and Moeen Ali (Tom Shaw/NatWest)

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Broad though is looking forward to locking horns with the two batsmen and taking on his Notts team-mate James Pattinson who has been beset by injuries in the past but could be a part of another impressive Aussie attack.

And one that could be just as effective with the bowler friendly Dukes ball that has been commission for the summer.

“I was consulted about the ball and I was very pro the 2017 and 2018 Dukes!” added Broad. “I don't see it as a pro-England decision though it is a pro-Test cricket decision.

“I don't think Australia will be kicking and screaming about it. They've got Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson who is one of the best cricketers I've ever played with.

“He's everything you'd want from an overseas player, he froths from the mouth with excitement and aggression at wanting to bowl.

“He bowls 90 miles per hour, swings it away, nips it back and our bowlers and young cricketers are learning from him which is great for English cricket.

“He puts his body on the line for the club and the members gather and cheer for James Pattinson in the same way I hear they did for Richard Hadlee back in the 1980s. I fully expect to see him play in the Ashes.”

Before the Ashes rolls into view Broad will be a fan full of excitement just like the rest during the World Cup as he watches it unfold, something that Notts team-mate Alex Hales will now have to do too.

Alex Hales will be watching the World Cup not playing in it (AFP/Getty)

Broad revealed that he has been supporting Hales following his England axe, adding: “I had Alex round to my house the day after he got back from Cardiff just as a friend. He knows he made a terrible decision, but I've got a duty of care to him as a friend.

“He's had a pretty tough 18 months in his life, not in cricket particularly, but just in his life, so who am I to judge on the decisions he's made? I need to just be there as a friend for him.

“He's devastated to have been released from the England squad, but can he argue with the decision really? Not in my opinion.”

Stuart Broad is a NatWest ambassador, helping champion cricket at all levels as part of this year’s #NoBoundaries campaign, which will see NatWest continuing its work to ensure cricket remains a game for everyone no matter their background.

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