Cook advises England to ignore Warne

Alastair Cook will tell his England team to ignore Shane Warne's claims that they have behaved arrogantly in this summer's Ashes series.

Warne singled out England wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Graeme Swann for criticism over their approach to broadcast interviews.

Australia batsman Steve Smith made it clear on Wednesday, however, that the tourists have no issue with any of the Englishmen on the field of play - and captain Cook also rose above the opinion voiced by Warne in his Daily Telegraph column.

Asked whether it was a case merely of the former Australia great 'shouting his mouth off', Cook said: "To be honest, it is a bit of that.

"As a side, I've got no qualms with the way we've gone about our business in this series."

The hosts have already retained the Ashes and will on Friday continue their quest to win them outright for a third successive time, in the fourth Investec Test at Chester-le-Street.

Cook added: "The way we've conducted ourselves, we've been very good.

"For us as an England side, it's just a story in the media, and we will just totally ignore it.

"I don't really mind what he says.

"It is all about how we play our cricket. People are entitled to their opinions about the way we go about our business as a side, and we try to be as respectful as we can to the opposition.

"We try and do things in a proper way - clearly we don't always get it right, but I think Andy Flower has been very strong on that in his coaching circle."

Cook is not minded to ignore the behaviour of Monty Panesar, however.

The spinner, who has an incremental contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board, was fined by police for urinating on nightclub bouncers after drinking to excess in Brighton.

He said: "I think it is a very disappointing incident to happen - certainly for a member of the England squad, as he was.

"We know the responsibilities we have as cricketers. Any behaviour like that is unacceptable."