Anderson fires up at Aussie 'bullies'

The bad blood between Australia and England has been laid bare by Jimmy Anderson, who has likened Steve Smith's side to "bullies" in an inflammatory newspaper column.

Anderson has also accused the hosts of concocting "a deliberate ploy to say things close to the stump mics so it would be picked up by the media".

Jonny Bairstow headbutted Cameron Bancroft when the pair crossed paths during England's first night on tour in a bizarre greeting ritual, but the story didn't become public until Australia's on-field comments were picked up by the stump microphones on a radio broadcast on day four of the first Test.

After three engrossing days of Test cricket, where England had the ascendency for much of that period, Australia dominated the fourth day before cruising to a 10-wicket win. That has left England feeling aggrieved, and accusing Australia of only bringing up the incident once they were ahead in the first Test.

Aside from the on-field sledging, Smith's laughter while sitting alongside Bancroft during a light-hearted press conference in which the debutant recalled the headbutt, has gone down like a lead balloon with the visitors.

"Australia were taking the mickey out of England after the first Test and it was infuriating to listen to and watch," Anderson wrote in UK newspaper The Telegraph.

"But all it did was make us more determined to ensure we come here ready for a battle.

"A bully waits until they are in the ascendancy to pounce on people. That is what Australian teams do.

"They are quiet when they are not on top which was the case for the first three days of the Brisbane Test and then on day four they came alive."

Stump microphones picked up David Warner saying "you shouldn't headbutt our mates" last Sunday, with Anderson claiming Australia were deliberately trying to ensure the story got out and disrupt the touring party.

"We knew what they were up to. That is fine, we just leave them to it. We are not interested in getting involved in any verbal battle or slanging match with them," he noted.

Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine dismissed the notion earlier this week.

"I know England have been saying we only brought it up because we were on top or kept it up our sleeve, which is rubbish," Paine said of the Bairstow sledging.

Anderson wrote that England want to focus on outplaying Australia in the second Test that starts at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, but that he will continue to fire back some verbals.

"Dealing with sledging is an individual thing. For me, I am not going to take abuse from David Warner or anyone else and not have a word back," he wrote.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21