ENGLISH cricket fans have already begun their verbal assault on the Australian cricket team, but it appears the players aren’t prepared to take it lying down.

Australia had their first taste of the sledging - inspired by the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town - in a warm-up match against Sussex in Hove on Thursday.

Walking the sidelines as 12th man during the match was star off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was asked by English fans if he had sandpaper in his pockets.

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Nathan Lyon during an Australian ODI training session. Source: Getty Images

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“Nah mate, just the Ashes,” Lyon responded.

The sledge wasn’t the only one aimed from the sidelines at the Australians, with a chorus of ‘if you like sandpaper, clap your hands’ coming from the crowd during the last ten overs.

Although, the relationship between the fans and the Australians wasn’t entirely hostile, with many players stopping for selfies and signing autographs between deliveries.

Marcus Stoinis - who made 110 runs on the day - said after the match that the sledging didn’t affect the side on their way to a 57 run victory in their first match since the South Africa tour.

“The banter was pretty good, you could hear them singing,” he said.

“It’s all in good spirits, and the boys on the boundary said it was good too. It’s only what you’d expect.”

Stoinis’ 110 was the cornerstone of Australia’s target of 277 for nine after they lost the toss.

South coast county side Sussex finished on 220 all out, with 45 balls left when No. 11 Abi Sakande was bowled by Jhye Richardson.

Australia left-arm spinner Ashton Agar took three wickets for 64 runs in his maximum 10 overs.

With AFP

Marcus Stoinis - who made 110 runs on the day - said after the match that the sledging didn’t affect the side on their way to a 57 run victory. Source: Getty Images

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Australia ODI squad: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Michael Neser

TOUR OF ENGLAND SCHEDULE

June 13 First ODI, The Oval

June 16 Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19 Third ODI, Trent Bridge

June 21 Fourth ODI, Durham

June 24 Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27 T20, Edgbaston