The verbal sparring has started three days out from the Ashes cricket series in Australia with the England fast bowler Stuart Broad denying a claim that he had two members ejected from the Sydney Cricket Ground last week for sledging him.
Broad, who was labelled a "cheat" by Australian coach Darren Lehmann in a radio interview, was always going to be a target for Australian fans this series, after his infamous decision not to walk in the first test of the last Ashes in the UK.
But allegations that Broad has already reacted before the first test will only add fuel to the fire for Australian fans at the Gabba when the first test starts on Thursday.
At the end of their England tour, Lehmann encouraged home fans to give Broad a hard time when England arrived Down Under.
