Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that his side's animosity towards arch-rivals England in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane has nothing to do with the fact that they are playing back-to-back series.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the usually mild mannered Clarke was heard on stump cam telling serial niggler James Anderson to get ready for a broken fing arm at the crease before Australia claimed a stunning 381-run Test victory on Sunday at the Gabba.
However, Clarke believed it was just their competitive natures taking hold, not Australia's bitterness over England's 3-0 win sealed last August that clinched three straight Ashes series victories, the report said.
The captain said that he thought it was because both teams wanted to win so badly, adding that he respects the fact that there is a line and both teams should not overstep that line.