Warne promises Ashes 'trash talk'

Warne insists his back-chat does not contravene the rules

Shane Warne has no intention of toning down his behaviour in this summer's Ashes series despite a sledging row.

The Hampshire skipper was accused of trying to humiliate Sussex's Matt Prior during a recent Championship game.

"Gamesmanship, banter, trash talk, sledging... whatever you call it, has been part of cricket for a long time.

"People say it's us Australians doing it but that is because we are the one country who don't complain about other teams doing it to us," said Warne.

"If people want to take offence over what we say because they have been in the comfort zone too long, so be it.

"We will play hard to win and anybody who plays us will be tested both physically and mentally. If they aren't up to it, we'll win easily."

He continued: "The way we play our cricket in Australia is very hard and tough with in-your-face aggression - but within the rules.

"That's the way I play and the way I like Hampshire to play and I make no apologies for that."

Sussex captain Chris Adams said he had lost respect for Warne following the incident at Hove.

Hampshire responded by claiming Adams' views were "somewhat hypocritical" given the way he behaved during the game, and in previous fixtures between the two sides.

"Everyone is disappointed with the way Chris Adams conducted himself and I think even he regrets it because he has phoned our chairman, Rod Bransgrove," said Warne.