Australia captain Michael Clarke has insisted that his side will not cross the line in on-field confrontations ahead of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.

Much of the build-up has been dominated by the subject of sledging following a number of clashes in the 2013-14 series, but former England batsman Kevin Pietersen claims that it remains a crucial part of cricket.

Clarke promises that his players will not change their approach due to the debate, and he believes that players rarely go too far with their attempts to interact with rivals.

"I know we play a tough brand of cricket but we're also respectful towards the players we play against, and to the game of cricket," Clarke told reporters. "A lot of it sells newspapers and it builds the series as well, so I'm more than happy for there to be a lot of talk about it. It's entertaining for the people who are going to be at home watching or come to the ground to watch.

"I think everyone knows where the line is. In the last Ashes series if anyone overstepped it, it was me so I have to make sure I set my standard and have the discipline to stay there as well, which I know I will.

"You definitely need to respect the laws of the game, you can play hard but play fair. You don't have to sledge to play tough cricket. It's as much about body language and intent and attitude as it is about verbal stuff that comes out of your mouth."

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