James Anderson tells England fans not to boo Australia's David Warner
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Bowler James Anderson has asked England fans not to boo Australia opener David Warner as it "will spur him on to perform even better".
Warner has been jeered during the World Cup after recently returning from a year-long ban for ball tampering.
But he scored his first international century since his his comeback to help Australia beat Pakistan on Wednesday.
"From our point of view we'd rather he just be left alone," England's Anderson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
- David Warner credits his wife for first century since ball tampering ban
- India's Virat Kohli praised for defending Steve Smith from crowds
Warner and World Cup team-mate Steve Smith were banned, along with Cameron Bancroft, after being involved in a plot to use sandpaper on the ball during a tour of South Africa in March 2018.
Australia coach Justin Langer asked fans not to boo Warner and Smith during the World Cup but they have both endured hostile receptions.
The pair are also likely to play when the Ashes takes place in England this summer.
Asked if Warner would be targeted for sledging by England players, Anderson said: "I wouldn't have thought so.
"In the last few years we've been trying to stay away from that sort of thing. In terms of crowd reaction, we can't control that."
Anderson is not part of England's limited overs team but, having taken more wickets than any other fast bowler in Test history with 575, will be a key player during the five-Test Ashes series.
He added: "When we go to Australia we get much worse than being booed.
"You know it's just part and parcel of the sport. English fans are very passionate when it comes to the Ashes as well.
"For me, I actually personally think that if David Warner gets booed that will spur him on to perform even better."
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Their participation defines this Aussie team at the moment and that is not a good thing for them or for the tournament.
As rightly pointed out ,Warner and co have used vile abuse against opponents for years, but now we are supposed to be nice to them as they made a mistake!
I hope the Barmy Army have their own thoughts about this!
What I detest most about this whole thing is the australians thinking they are the arbiters of the sport and can decide when something is right or wrong. Langer asking people not to boo after the whole Lehmann/Broad fiasco... just leave it lads. Let the people decide; it's their sport, not yours.
Yeah and their bans just coincidentally ended just before the important world cup and Ashes. Complete coincidence.
Johnson didn't cheat, Smith and Warner did.
If they get a few boos, I'd say they've got off pretty lightly.
Hard to see anything other than a summer of derision & sandpaper-based chants ahead.
When the worm turns we're all supposed to forget about the crap they've thrown at opposition players?
What goes around comes around. Life is harsh got to get on with it.
3 minutes ago
@29 You're right. But if you look again at the Broad incident, what happens is that he nicks it to Iron Gloves Haddin, it comes off his gloves to slip.
Wasn't it the same game that Haddin was last out, on review, when he edged to the keeper and admitted that he knew he'd hit it? As Langer might say "elite hypocrisy" from the Aussies.