Australian batsman David Warner has said that England fears Australia and warned the tourists that he has set his sights on bringing down their captain Alastair Cook in a top-order showdown that could decide the winter Ashes.
Warner, who is in career-best form after scoring four centuries in a month with domestic side New South Wales (NSW), is motivated to deliver Australia a top-order match-winner who can echo Cook's appetite for big hundreds.
According to News.com.au, Warner said he thinks that England is afraid of Australia, as they are aware that his side means business, adding that the little moments they won were the key to them winning the summer series 3-0 in England.
Warner further said that Australia has identified what they need to work on and insisted that he and his team are mentally tougher than their summer stint in England, although he admitted that he must counter-punch against Cook for the hosts to have any hope of winning the Ashes.
The report mentioned that Cook scored 766 runs at 127.66, including 235 not out at the Gabba during England's last trip to Australia in 2010-11, while Warner has not scored a century in his past 22 Test innings.
Stating that a stint in domestic cricket after his bar-room bust-up with Joe Root and his sessions with sports psychologist Michael Lloyd have brought solidity to his life, Warner also said that he has to try to stay in, score big runs and be consistent, adding that he is raring to go as he has not been in such form before in his career.
