Shaun Marsh said Australia will be fuelled with aggression for the forthcoming Ashes series, but insists the notoriously confrontational tourists will not overstep the mark.
The last Ashes series, played in the winter of 2013/14, threatened to boil over on several occasions, most notably at Brisbane when Michael Clarke and Jimmy Anderson were involved in a heated confrontation that saw the former charged by the International Cricket Council for telling the England bowler to expect his arm to be “broken”.
In contrast, England’s current opponents, New Zealand, have been lauded for their fun approach to the game.
Speaking on Sunday, Australia captain Clarke said his side would not be moving away from their aggressive style.
Marsh, the 31-year-old batsman taking part in his first Ashes series, echoed his captain’s sentiments at the Kensington hotel where he and his teammates are based before they head to Kent later this week for the first of their two warm-up matches.
“I think it is really important to get out there and show your aggression, and put your stamp on the game – that is the Australian way,” Marsh said.
“It is an Ashes series and I am sure there will be sledging from both teams, but I am also sure it will be in the spirit of the game.
“We have seen the English come out and play some really positive cricket over the last four months. It is going to be a really good brand of cricket from both teams.
“We’re looking forward to getting out there and putting it right up to them.”
Marsh opened the batting for Australia in their recent tour of West Indies after Chris Rogers withdrew from the series with concussion.
But the left-hander failed to go beyond 20 in his opening three knocks before hitting a commendable 69 in the second innings of the final Test.
It leaves his position for the Ashes opener at Cardiff on July 8 in doubt, as Rogers is tipped to return to the line-up.
David Warner, Steve Smith, Clarke and Shane Watson are almost certain to occupy the top six, leaving Marsh expected to go head-to-head with Adam Voges for a starting berth.
“There’s going to be lots of stiff competition and I think it’s important to go out there and get some runs in the warm-up games and put your case forward,” said Marsh, whose side face Kent in a four-day match starting on Thursday.
“I’m happy to bat anywhere in the top six for the Australian cricket team, but it’s important for me to hopefully get a big couple of hundreds in the tour games.
“We’re really excited about what opportunities lie ahead for us. Obviously we haven’t won here for 14 years but we’re playing a really good brand of cricket at the moment and we’ve come off a good series in the West Indies.
“The boys have trained really well. We had a couple of days off when we first got here and we’re looking forward to heading down to Kent in a few days’ time and getting ourselves ready for that first Test on July 8.”
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