'If I don't get a hundred..': Root on Ashes ambitions
What's the story
England's star batter Joe Root has said that the upcoming Ashes series is not about him scoring a century in Australia. Instead, he believes that if his team wins the prestigious trophy even without him scoring a century, it would be the "best achievement of his whole career." The statement comes as Root prepares to take on Australia in a Test series where he is yet to score a century Down Under.
Legacy focus
Ashes legacy under the spotlight
Root's Ashes legacy is under the spotlight as he heads into this series. Despite being the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, he has yet to score a century in Australia. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Root said: "This series is not about me, it is about us winning the Ashes. If at any stage it starts to become that in my own mind, then I'm doing a disservice to this team."
Future focus
Looking ahead to the upcoming Ashes series
Looking ahead to the upcoming Ashes series starting November 21 at Perth, Root is determined to enjoy the challenge. He said he has all the experience from previous tours and is playing some nice cricket without the burden of captaincy. "If we come away from this and I have not got a hundred, and we win the series, that would be probably the best achievement of my whole career. That is where it sits with me," he added.
Performance review
First tour to Australia in 2013-14
In 14 Tests against Australia, Root has scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68 with nine fifties. His best score is 89, and he has three scores in the 80s. Looking back at his previous Ashes tours to Australia in 2013-14, 2017-18, and 2021-22, all ended in humiliating defeats for England. The first was a whitewash where Root scored just 192 runs at an average of 27.42 with one 50 and a best of 87.
Captaincy challenges
Second tour in 2017-18
Root's second Ashes tour was also his first as captain, where Australia won the series 4-0. However, he fared better than before with 378 runs at an average of 47.25 in nine innings with five fifties and a best of 83. The England batter recalled off-field controversies during this time but didn't let them affect his performance too much on the field.
Pandemic challenges
Third tour during COVID-19 pandemic
The last Ashes tour was during the COVID-19 pandemic bubble in 2021-22, where Australia again handed England a one-sided series defeat by 4-0. Root top-scored for his side with 322 runs at an average of 32.20 in 10 innings with three fifties and a best of 89. He recalled that ahead of the Sydney Test, they didn't have proper coaching staff as many were isolating for two weeks due to health protocols.