SURFER JOE V BROAD'S BUNNY!

JOE ROOT will cross paths with David Warner tonight - vowing to keep riding the crest of a wave after the Aussie wind bag's “surfboard” jibe.

- BY MIKE WALTERS X@MikeWaltersMGM

England’s most prolific batsman of all time insists his search for an elusive Test hundred Down Under this winter won't be distracted by a phoney war.

Even by Ashes trash talk stand ards, former Aussie opener Warner's preemptive barb that Root is allegedly susceptible to being trapped lbw by Josh Hazlewood was as transparent as your double glazing.

Warner (circle) claimed: “Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot.

“He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.”

Root's former England teammate Stuart Broad gave Warner a low mark for his homework.

And the former England quickie bounced back on X:

"Just for clarity, Hazlewood has got Rooty lbw in Test cricket three times."

Also for clarity, Broad dismissed Warner 17 times, making the ex-Aussie opener the No.1 'bunny' among his 604 Test wickets.

With delicious timing, Root's Trent Rockets meet Warner's London Spirit in The Hundred at Lord's - but he won't be looking to start a sledging war.