England batter Joe Root said his experience of 158 Tests makes him better equipped than ever to end a victory drought in Australia, as he ramps up preparations for the upcoming Ashes series.
Root, who moved to second on the all-time Test run-scorer charts during England’s five-match series against India, which was drawn 2-2 earlier this month, has accumulated 13,543 runs in Tests, trailing only Indian great Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Despite his prolific record, the 34-year-old Root has yet to win a Test or score a Test century in Australia, where he averages 35.68 from 27 innings with nine half-centuries.
“Having played in Australia a couple of times before, now going with 150-odd Test caps under my belt, I feel I couldn’t be more ready for it,” Root told British media on Thursday.
“The thing that stands out for me is I probably wanted it [a century] way too much the last couple of times. It took me away from what was important.”
Australia won both the 2017-18 series and following home series in 2021-22 4-0 before drawing 2-2 in England in 2023 to retain the urn.
England last triumphed in Australia in 2010-11, which is also the last time the tourists won a Test Down Under.
“There were a lot of distractions,” Root said of the last two Ashes series in Australia.
“I was captain, Covid [in 2021-22], there was the [Ben] Stokes incident the time before that [when Stokes was ruled out of the 2017-18 tour after an incident at a Bristol nightclub], the Jonny [Bairstow] headbutt incident as well.
“This time I want to just go and enjoy the tour for what it is. It is a beautiful country it is a great place to go and play cricket. I know if I put my best performances in then everything else will look after itself,” the veteran batter added.
This year’s Ashes begins in Perth on Nov 21 before a day-night match in Brisbane, the third Test in Adelaide and the traditional Melbourne and Sydney Tests in December and January.
Meanwhile, Root has brushed aside David Warner’s jibe that he will need to “take the surfboard off his front leg” if England are to triumph in Australia in the Ashes.
Root is widely considered central to England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes but former Australia opener Warner suggested the ex-England captain is especially vulnerable to being out lbw.
“Josh Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He [Root] will have to take the surfboard off his front leg,” said Warner, who retired from international cricket last year.
Root, asked on a media call if he had laughed off the jibe, replied: “Just that. I can’t have any control on how people see the game or talk in interview.
“Nothing new, is it? You know there are going to be storylines and people wanting to hype up a big series. Doesn’t really change anything.
“It’s sort of irrelevant to me. What can I do about it? Just make sure it’s not a talking point in six months or 100 days time,” added Root in an event staged by official Hundred team partner KP Snacks.
“When you get out there you’ve got to try and impact the game and help your team get off to a good start. Business as usual as far as I’m concerned.“I guess it’s all part of the fun. We’ll see what happens out there [with Warner at Lord’s]. It’s not really in my nature to get too verbal.”
