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 India 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.”
This year’s Ashes begins in Perth on November 21 before a day-night match in Brisbane, the third test in Adelaide and the traditional Melbourne and Sydney tests in December and January.
(Reuters)
