Smith warns England of more Aussie aggression

give Australia a 1-0 lead in the fivematch series.

“Really pleased with the way we played this test match. It’s great to go up 1-0 in this Ashes series,” said manof-the-match Smith.

“We’re going to continue to play the same way we have, nice and aggressively. We’ve played some really good cricket we had to fight after the first couple of days to get the result we’re after.

“No doubt there will continue to be some good, hard, aggressive cricket throughout the series.”

A small media storm was generated by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s “headbutt” greeting of Bancroft at a bar in Perth in the leadup, an incident both teams played down.

Smith revealed his team had used the incident as ammunition to throw Bairstow off his game when he was batting on the field and believed the tactic had worked when the wicketkeeper was dismissed softly for 42 when he hit straight to third man.

The incident had proved to be a distraction to the England camp, with their coach Trevor Bayliss saying staff would meet with players to potentially discuss tighter curfews.

Smith shrugged when asked whether Australia’s exploitation of the incident might fuel animosity between the teams.

“It’s always played hard out on the field. There’s a line you’re not to cross. I don’t think it makes any real difference,” he said.

Adelaide Oval will offer a different challenge for both teams, with the pink ball likely to move far more in the first day-night Ashes test than at the Gabba. – Reuters