Victorious Australia captain Michael Clarke was unrepentant about his sledging of England’s James Anderson as antagonism took hold at the conclusion of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Former Hampshire batsman Clarke did not deny telling England’s number 11 to “get ready for a ******* broken arm” as he took guard to face fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, a comment Anderson was visibly unimpressed by.

Hampshire’s Michael Carberry provided a rare England batting highlight with 40 in the first innings but England captain Alastair Cook, who saw his team capitulate to a crushing 381-run defeat in Brisbane, admitted it was “war” on the pitch and took issue with Australia batsman David Warner describing England counterpart Jonathan Trott as “weak”.

Clarke though felt everyone involved needed to accept it was all part of the banter surrounding an Ashes series.

Put on the spot about his alleged comment to Anderson, Clarke said: “You must have great ears.

“Through my career, there has always been banter on the cricket field – and I cop as much as I give, that’s for sure.

“That’s part and parcel of the game ... but all the England players know we certainly respect them, and we understand we have to be at our best to beat them.

“I’ve heard a lot worse said on a cricket field than what the Australia players or the England players said throughout this Test match.”

Cook stopped short of calling for any disciplinary measures by the International Cricket Council against Warner for his remarks about Trott, but there was no mistaking his disapproval.

“I think the comment by David Warner was pretty disrespectful to any professional cricketer really,” Cook said. Clarke claims the tough-talking merely demonstrates how much the Ashes means to those involved.

“It’s because both teams want to win so badly,” he added. “We all respect the history and traditions of the game. Australia v England has always been competitive ... I think that’s great for the game.

“I certainly understand and respect that there’s a line – and both teams shouldn’t overstep that line – and I hope that hasn’t been the case through this Test. I can only talk from our team, but there’s not one player on the England team that anyone has a personal vendetta against, or anybody disrespects as a cricketer.”

While Clarke can reflect on an overdue Australia success, opposite number Cook must work out quickly how to negate the threat of Johnson. The left-armer’s nine-wicket match haul helped hustle England out for 136 and then 179 – with Trott his most hapless victim.

“We’ve been outplayed pretty much after the first day,” said Cook. “We’ve certainly lost the first battle; we now need to go away and regroup, stay strong as a unit and really be honest with ourselves.”

Aussie paceman Johnson is England’s most obvious problem – along with number three Trott.

“We’ve got to look at the way we’re going to play him,” said Cook.

Trott can expect no respite, even if a slower surface is likely for the second Test in Adelaide.

“He’s been thinking about the short ball, from what I’ve seen,” said Johnson. “There were a couple of nice ones that were zinging past his nose.

He added: “I’ll keep doing it. It’s working.”