Joe Root has told Australia to "bring it on" if they set out to target him in the Ashes series, insisting England are better prepared for their host's aggression than four years ago.

Root's wicket will likely be the most prized English scalp this summer, given his standing as captain and world No.2 ranked batsman.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon certainly had no doubt last week that he and the three-pronged pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood would make Root a hunted man across the five Tests.

Vice-captain David Warner, who had an off-field run in with Root in 2013, also called for umpires to be more lenient on sledging between the two rivals during the series.