Stuart Broad has called on England to maintain their aggressive edge in the field - provided they stay on the right side of the match officials.

Broad is happy for the team to forge a combative reputation but accepts it is crucial to play within the spirit of the game.

As such, the 23-year-old followed team-mate Graeme Swann in apologising for an indiscretion on day five of the first Test against Bangladesh.

Swann's misdemeanour - a loud four-letter send-off for the stoic Junaid Siddique - was perhaps worse than Broad's failure to turn and await the umpire's verdict after trapping Abdur Razzak lbw, but he was nevertheless quick to make amends.

"It had been a frustrating morning for us, I wrapped the fella on the pad and I knew it was out straight away," said Broad.

"But I get on really well with the umpire (Rod Tucker) and I just said 'sorry about my mishap, totally my fault'. He just laughed it off and said 'don't worry about it'.

"I made a mistake and I apologised to him but he was very light-hearted about it. It had been a tough day and he used his common sense.

"You're always talking to the umpire and if you are getting frustrated and or crossing the line they can have a word with you and calm it down a little bit."

He continued: "I do show aggression, it's in my blood, but I've never once come under scrutiny from the ICC or from the umpires for that aggression.

"As long it doesn't go over the line I think we're doing really well."

Swann has already repented for his own outburst but, despite following suit, Broad does not think England would be well-served by adopting a softer approach.

"It's still important to show a presence on the field, as the whole England team does," he said.

"At the end of the day are playing for your country so you are going to have passion and pride out there.

"You have to have an aggression and a presence in Test cricket because you're not just there to bowl at the batsman so he can score runs, you're there to get him out.

"Look at some of the best fast bowlers in the world - Glenn McGrath was hugely aggressive with his body language and his staring and stuff."

Swann, who took 10 wickets in a match for the first time in the 181-run win in Chittagong, moved up to number two in the official ICC bowling rankings as a result.

That is the highest an Englishman has been since Steve Harmison in 2004 and Broad believes he could even usurp South Africa's Dale Steyn at the summit.

"Swanny has been fantastic since he's come back in," he said.

"He's looked dangerous - especially in his first over, because he seems to get a wicket every time he comes on.

"Everyone in the side is pleased for him to be number two and we're hoping for him to get to number one at some stage too."