SYDNEY: Australia opener David Warner has fired a salvo ahead of the Ashes against England, likening the series to a ‘war’ and saying the hosts would work up some ‘hatred’ for their opponents to get in the right frame of mind.

Warner also said he did not regret comments he made during the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in 2013 about England having ‘scared eyes’, adding that he fully expected more words to be exchanged during the coming series.

“As soon as you step on that line it’s war,” Warner said on ABC Grandstand. “You try and get into a battle as quick as you can. I try and look in the opposition’s eyes and try and work out ‘how can I dislike this player, how can I get on top of him?’

“You have to delve and dig deep into yourself to actually get some hatred about them to actually get up when you’re out there. History is a big part in this and that is what carries us onto the ground.”

The five-Test series starts in Brisbane on Nov 23 and Warner said the battle would begin in earnest on day one of the first encounter at the Gabba.

“Four years ago, during that first Test I made some statements in the media and at the time I thought it was a great thing to come out and speak what I said,” he added, in reference to his comments during the last Ashes held in Australia, which the hosts won 5-0.

“I have no regrets about that and I think that could have played a little bit of a role in the back of their minds.

“At the moment I’m not going to put any vibes out there or get into a verbal stoush... but come day one when we walk out there, there will definitely be some words exchanged. I think the subtle approach these days is how it is and how it goes.”

Meanwhile, Australia captain Steve Smith says England’s Ben Stokes is ‘one of the best players’ in the world but he cannot condone the behaviour that led to the all-rounder being arrested for an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub.

Stokes, 26, is England’s vice captain and one of their most important players, but his participation in the Ashes series has been thrown into doubt after he was released under investigation following the incident.

Smith would not be drawn, however, on whether Stokes should be banned from playing in the series.

“Whether he comes or not, that’s out of our control,” Smith told ABC Grandstand in his first public comments on Stokes’ situation. “You always want to come up against the best and test your skills against the best.

That’s what Test cricket is all about. There’s no doubt Ben Stokes is one of the best players around the world at the moment with the skills he brings to the game.”

Smith said he hoped no Australian players ever found themselves in the same situation as Stokes.

“I certainly don’t condone that kind of behaviour,” he added. “Hopefully it never happens to one of our boys. I don’t condone that type of behaviour. Let’s hope we never cross paths with that.”

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2017