Root says Warner talk of Ashes war ‘a bit extreme’
LONDON: England captain Joe Root said Friday that it was “extreme” of Australia adversary David Warner to compare the upcoming Ashes series to “war”.
Opening batsman Warner received widespread criticism in England when, asked in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) earlier this month what the Ashes meant to him, he replied: “The history, the pride that is at stake. As soon as you step on that line it’s war.”
He added: “You try and get into a battle as quick as you can. I try and look in the opposition’s eye and work out how can I dislike this player, how can I get on top of him.
“You’ve got to find that spark in yourself to really take it to the opposition. You have to delve and dig deep into yourself to get some sort of hatred about them.”
Root, asked what he made of Warner’s remarks, told reporters at Lord’s on Friday: “I wouldn’t say that’s exactly how I go about it.
“It’s a competitive sport, everyone goes out there desperate to do well, desperate to win, I would never refer to it as war, I think that’s a bit extreme.”
Warner was banned by Australia for part of their 2013 tour of England after punching Root in a Birmingham bar and during the return 2013/14 campaign in Australia -- which saw England lose the Ashes 5-0 -- he suggested some of the tourists’ batsmen had “scared eyes” during the first Test in Brisbane.
“You know what you get with David,” said Root.
“What you see is what you get. He’s passionate, he wants to do well for his country and it’s going to be a very entertaining series,” he said.