LAY OFF STOKES IN THE BANTER

Warner warns: Don't rile Ben

- BY SIMON CASS

DAVID WARNER has warned Australia not to "poke the bear" by trying to rile England captain Ben Stokes.

The former Australia opener had more than his fair share of run-ins with England over the years but believes going after Stokes in next month's Ashes series would be a mistake.

"If we can sort of not poke that bear and get him up and about, I think that will help Australia enormously," he said."

"I had the fortunate privilege to share a changing room with him when he was younger and he has evolved into a serious cricketer and a fantastic leader.

"I do want to see some bantering out on the field and I want to see them going at each other a little bit - obviously not at Stokes because that is what creates that energy and involvement in the game."