BADBOY BROAD ON A MISSION

Broad’s happy to play villain

STUART Broad is hell-bent on remaining the figure David Warner and Australia love to hate.

Broad, 31, says the energy gained from confronting chief protagonist Warner is the genesis of his Ashes inspiration — punctuated by a match-winning 8-15 at Trent Bridge in 2015, where Australia folded for a calamitous 60 in its first innings.

“I love that spice. I think that’s why I’ve probably saved some of my best performances for Ashes series, because it builds it up. I love the extra pressure,” said Broad, who craves another hostile reception from Brisbane fans in the Ashes opener from November 23.

“If you can’t deal with that you shouldn’t be playing toplevel sport,” Broad said of his tetchy relationship with Australian crowds.

Opener Warner has equated the Ashes to war.

Broad said he would love to have the pocket dynamo in the trenches, but notes the Australian vice-captain’s aggression can work the other way for the Old Enemy.

“He’s one of those blokes who’s not that enjoyable to play against, but if he’s in your team you love him,” said Broad, with 84 Ashes wickets at 27 including 6-81 against England at the Gabba in 2013-14.

“He’s someone who can take the game away from you quickly. These are the sort of guys you want to play against, who spur you on and you know that if you get it wrong to him he can hurt you, but it’s also extremely exciting if you get him out.”

“Stomach churning” Ashes conflicts and villain status, notes Broad, are “like being a Manchester United player at Anfield”.

“It’s why the Ashes is so special. You walk out and go ‘whoa, I’m alive here, this is what it’s all about’,” said Broad, targeted by Aussie fans since failing to walk despite a clear catch in the first Test at Trent Bridge in 2013.

England has the ticker to triumph Down Under as father Chris’s unit did in 1986-87. New heroes can “make it their series” while Ben Stokes’ iron will has “rubbed off”, insists Broad of a side targeting a fifth Ashes triumph in six series.

“You can only win Ashes series if you have that competitive streak,” said Broad, whose combative approach emulates childhood Australian Ashes heroes Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath.

“Since the likes of KP [Kevin Pietersen] came around, Matt Prior, 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’ve had more success in Ashes series.”