Stuart Broad - My heroes used to be Aussies

England's Stuart Broad celebrates after trapping Australia's Chris Rogers LBW. Photo / AP

Pace bowler Stuart Broad has a knack for getting up Australia's noses.

But Broad, whose father Chris was an Ashes star, has revealed his childhood heroes were Australian players.

Broad will willingly shoulder a huge load in this week's fourth test at his home ground of Trent Bridge because fellow spearhead James Anderson is sidelined by injury. And he has revealed where his combative inspiration comes from.

"I was very proud of Dad and what he achieved in Ashes cricket, but actually my heroes were slightly different growing up. They weren't English," Broad confessed at a function in the Long Room at Lord's.

"As a young kid you get influenced by winning teams, don't you? So Glenn McGrath is my hero and watching Australian players succeed, I enjoyed that. Unfortunately my heroes are Australian."

Opener Chris Broad had a relatively brief test career, the undoubted highlight being a run of centuries in the 1986/87 Ashes which steered England to a series victory.

Stuart Broad incensed the Australians by refusing to walk after edging a catch in a previous series and has got a rough reception in Australia at times.

"I quite liked it," Broad was reported as saying in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.