As he intensifies his preparations for the forthcoming Ashes series, England batsman Joe Root stated that his 158 Test experience puts him more prepared than ever to break a losing streak in Australia.
During England’s five-match series against India, which ended in a 2-2 draw earlier this month, Root rose to second on the all-time test run-scorer lists with 13,543 runs, behind only India great Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Despite his impressive record, Root averages 35.68 from 27 innings with nine half-centuries in Australia, and the 34-year-old is yet to win a Test or score a Test century in the country of his traditional rivals.
“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,” he added.
Australia retained the Ashes after winning the 2017–18 series and the subsequent home series in 2021–22 4-0 before drawing 2-2 in England in 2023.
England last tasted Ashes glory in Australia in 2010-11 — their most recent Test win on Australian soil.
“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,” he added.
“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,” he said.
The 2025 Ashes will open in Perth on November 21, followed by a day-night Test in Brisbane, the third match in Adelaide, and the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
