England batter Joe Root says his 158-Test career has prepared him better than ever to end England’s long winless run in Australia as he gears up for the upcoming Ashes series.
Root, who recently climbed to second place on the all-time Test run-scorers list during England’s 2-2 series draw against India, has amassed 13,543 runs, behind only India’s Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Despite his stellar record, the 34-year-old is still chasing his first Test win and maiden century in Australia, where he averages 35.68 from 27 innings with nine fifties.
“Having toured Australia a couple of times before, and now with over 150 Test caps to my name, I feel I couldn’t be more ready for the challenge,” 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.
