With England preparing for the big Ashes series in Australia beginning on November 21, star batsman Joe Root has spoken about the task. Despite being one of his generation’s most productive Test batsmen, Root has yet to reach a century in Australia. However, for him, the forthcoming trip is less about personal achievements and more about winning the Ashes.
Root’s record in Australia has been excellent, despite the lack of a major breakthrough. In 14 Tests on Australian soil, he has scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68, including nine fifties but falling short of three-figures. His greatest score is still 89, with three scores in the 80s. Root was England’s leading run-getter on their last trip in 2021-22, with 322 runs in a 4-0 defeat.
In the Ashes context, Root has scored 2,428 runs in 34 Tests, including four centuries; as he stands 17th on the all-time Ashes run charts. At home in 2023, he was impressive again, scoring 412 runs at an average of 51.50. The right-handed batter brushed aside the talk about his personal milestones.
“This tour is not about me making 100. It is about us going and winning an Ashes series. As an experienced player, if I go out and make big scores and big 100s, then that gives us a great opportunity to go and do that. It is understanding that role within the team, building those big scores together as a group, like we have done over the course of the summer and the last couple of years. Then, hopefully, that leads to winning cricket games. If personal accolades come along, then fine,” he told on Sky Sports.
We’re going out there with a different team, a different mentality: Joe Root
Meanwhile, under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England’s “Bazball” approach has changed their cricket. Root believes this shift gives England a new approach.
“It’s a big series like that against a side that have got a great record at home, especially against us previously. We’re going out there with a different team, a different mentality, a different way of playing and have played some good cricket of late. Hopefully that stands us in good stead, and we can put across some really good performances and hopefully create some history,” he added.
England Test squad for Ashes tour of Australia
Ben Stokes (C), Harry Brook (VC), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
India
