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Anderson backs England to silence 'boorish' Oz fans by beating hosts in winter Ashes

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ANI London

England bowler James Anderson has said that the best way to silence the 'boorish' Australian crowd is by playing well and retaining the Ashes urn again in the winter series in Australia.

The swing bowling ace, who took 24 wickets in the series in 2010-11, when Andrew Strauss led England to their first Ashes triumph on Australian soil in 24 years, has reacted to Australian coach Darren Lehmann's appeal to Australian fans to give Anderson's team-mate Stuart Broad a hard time and 'make him cry' this winter.

According to the Mirror, Anderson, whose 329 Test wickets leave him just 54 shy of Sir Ian Botham's England record, said that it is necessary for the players to prepare themselves against partisan crowds in Australia during the return Ashes, adding that the best way to shut them up is to play well.

 

Anderson admitted that Australia could be a very intimidating place to play as the fans there are very passionate and vocal, although he added that he and his teammates, and even some of their wives and girlfriends, have experienced such behaviour in the past and thus is expecting to face them again.

However, Anderson hoped that such behaviour do not go to the extent of causing damage to the image of the game, with the report adding that in 1970-71, Ray Illingworth led England off the pitch in Sydney when an irate punter manhandled fast bowler John Snow on the boundary.

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First Published: Oct 17 2013 | 10:34 AM IST

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