A skirmish that could decide The Ashes: Michael Clarke opens rift with James Anderson

It is the skirmish that could decide the Ashes: James Anderson, the leader of England's attack, versus Michael Clarke, Australia's captain and best batsman. Anderson has dismissed Clarke eight times in 18 Tests, more than any other England bowler.

Spinners have hardly had a look-in during Ashes series, Clarke succumbing just three times in 43 innings and only once to Graeme Swann. That makes seam and swing important when it comes to dispatching Australia's captain and Anderson is England's best exponent of those arts. It could be a ding-dong battle too, especially as there appears to be some friction between the pair, with Clarke claiming in his recently -published Ashes Diary that Anderson has a habit of blanking him - while admitting that "we don't know each other".

"I don't dislike Michael," Anderson said in Brisbane yesterday, where England had a day off in the build-up to Thursday's opening Test. "I think he is possibly being a bit paranoid. I have nothing against him at all. "To be honest I don't remember seeing him many times outside a game situation. If he goes on how I behave in the field, he might think that, I don't know." The pair first played against each other in the Lancashire League 11 years ago, Clarke for Ramsbottom, Anderson for Burnley. If there is -animus between them Anderson may have started it by bashing Clarke on the head with a pad after England's players had decamped to Australia's dressing room, following their defeat in the 2006 Adelaide Test.

Much drink had been taken and Anderson, apparently at the behest of Damien Martyn, struck Clarke, who was not impressed. In his book, Anderson says he was egged on by Martyn and, with a few beers inside him, did not need a second invitation. Clarke, he wrote, was whistling and carrying on in an arrogant manner while the other players were attempting to be convivial. It is not the first time in the build-up to this series that English reserve has clashed with Aussie bravado.

Mitchell Johnson's claims, that he is going to dent a few heads and spill blood with a bouncer war, have got England seething and determined to make their opponents pay where it counts most - on the field. "I was brought up to think that actions speak louder than words," Anderson said. "We will try to concentrate on performing well and how we are going to try to beat the Australians. That's where it matters, on the field, and that is where we will try to show people what we are about."

Anderson was 12th man when England won the 2005 Ashes so should England prevail it would be his fourth series win against the old enemy. Given that two generations of England players never sniffed an Ashes victory for 18 years, such an achievement must be gratifying.

"It would be a huge achievement," Anderson agreed. "We have a great opportunity, but I don't like looking too far ahead and the rest of the guys don't really like that either. People are focused on Thursday and don't want to look too much further." Going 1-0 up here would be a perfect start but England must overcome two things: their bad habit of starting series slowly abroad and Australia's fine record at the Gabba, where they have not lost a Test since 1988. "We are aware of their record, but it is not something we will focus on too much, we want to concentrate on how we think we are going to win here," Anderson said. "We have had good experiences here. We know we can score runs and take wickets and that there is something for everyone."

England's team for the Test could yet include Matt Prior, who batted for an hour at the Gabba and took part in fielding drills yesterday. Prior sustained a calf injury in Hobart against Australia A and revealed in his Telegraph column yesterday that he would need to train at "100 per cent" tomorrow to have any chance of being fit for the Test. Jonny Bairstow is on standby to take his place.

Prior gave a thumbs-up sign to photographers after practice but the concern is that playing on Thursday could cause further damage to his calf and put him out for a significant length of time.