Broad seeks right balance as England get ready to fight Ashes fire with fire

Stuart Broad acknowledged yesterday that he needs to be measured with his own aggressive streak, but makes no secret either that England will be expecting Australia to test them mentally and physically from the outset.

He and his team-mates are relishing that prospect, and Broad points out the best way to prepare will be to treat the three-day warm-up match starting at the WACA on Friday as the most serious of dress rehearsals.

England will hope to have Graeme Swann available if required after a scare yesterday. The spinner is none the worse after being struck on his bowling hand by Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan in England's first nets session yesterday morning.

"I've got a competitive spirit. We know that Australia fight very hard and play cricket in the right way," said Broad. "It's international cricket, so you expect that."

Broad overstepped the mark, by his own admission, in last summer's Edgbaston Test – throwing back a dead ball at the end of an over, and unintentionally hitting Pakistan batsman Zulqarnain Haider on the hand.

"It's something I obviously need to find a good balance to," he conceded. "I know I bowl at my best when I'm in a bit of a bubble, emotional and competitive.

"I'd expect the Aussies to (try to) get under each of our players' skins. But that's not something we're scared of; it's something we're going to thrive on."

England have beaten Australia at their last attempt in each of the three international formats.

But few can need reminding that they have lost every Ashes series in Australia since 1986-87.

Broad spelled out: "We've not won for 24 years and we've only won a handful of Test matches in that time.

"Australia won virtually every game here last year. We're under no illusions – we know it's going to be tough. But we have to focus on what we're doing well.

"We had a great time of it last summer, and it's important we continue with that momentum – and that can only start in the warm-up games, making sure we're right on the button.

"Australia are one of the best teams in the world and we want to become the best team in the world.

"You can only do that by coming here and performing strongly."

Swann was struck a painful blow on the thumb of his bowling hand by a delivery from Bresnan.

England's key off-spinner needed ice treatment and some strapping but appeared to have avoided serious injury and was not in obvious pain for long, typically soon sharing a joke with his team-mates.

Pace bowlers James Anderson and Chris Tremlett suffered rib injuries in a training boxing bout during England's pre-tour bonding camp five weeks ago but both bowled in the WACA nets yesterday.