Stoneman expecting verbal attack from Australia

England opening batsman Mark Stoneman is wary of a verbal attack by Australia when the two teams meet each other in a gruelling five-Test Ashes series that begins later this month.

The 30-year-old is the 12th player to partner Alastair Cook at the top of the order ever since the retirement of Andrew Strauss and showed promising signs in the series against West Indies where he managed 120 runs from three Tests at an average of 30.

With plenty of experience in the domestic circuit that includes playing for Durham and Surrey, Stoneman also has played seven seasons of grade cricket in Sydney which makes him familiar to the conditions in Australia.

“I‘m quite looking forward to it, see what the sledgers have got for us,” said Stoneman, who will be seen in a tour game against Western Australia XI on Saturday.

Stoneman also credited former England skipper Cook for helping him calm the nerves on what was his maiden outing at the international level.

”It has only been a short while but I think he reads me quite well, too, from the other end as to whether he needs to give me a gee up or make me crack a smile.

“He’s quite funny actually. All the time that I only ever saw him on the telly he just looked like a guy who was very calm, but you can have a bit of banter with him and he judges the mood quite well.”

Following the conclusion of the warm up game against Western Australia, England will also face Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide and Townsville before the first Test in Brisbane.

© Cricket World 2017