“I Feel Ready" - Joe Root Eyes First Test Century In Australia

England star batter Joe Root says he is “ready” for the upcoming Ashes in Australia, starting on November 21, and believes he is better placed than ever to score his first Test century Down Under. Root has 39 Test hundreds but has yet to reach three figures in Australia, having accumulated 892 runs in 27 innings at 35.68, with a highest score of 89.

Since the end of the 2021/22 Ashes in Australia, Root has produced phenomenal numbers in Tests, amassing nearly 4000 runs across 44 matches at an average of 57.14, including 16 centuries. "I feel I am in a different place to when I last went out there. I haven't got the responsibility of captaincy and I am a lot more experienced,” Root told Sky Sports.

"I have had a good couple of years coming in and I have learned good lessons from my previous tours there as a batter and senior player. I am sure there is going to be a lot of talk around [me not scoring a hundred as of yet] but I feel ready for it. Big series are the ones you want to play in and contribute in.

"You want to create memories with the guys that you can share for the rest of your lives. I feel that is the opportunity in front of us that we have to chase and grab. If I am doing my role in the team then personal accolades will come but it's not the main focus. 

"It's about winning that urn back as it has been a long time since we held it. I feel we have some serious resources to take out there and hit Australia with. Hopefully we can get that right so if I am scoring heavily it gives us a chance."

Even earlier this year against India, Root impressed with 537 runs in nine innings at an average of 67.12, finishing as the second-highest run-getter in the series. The 34-year-old said that series, which ended in a 2-2 draw, served as solid preparation for the Ashes. England have not won any of their last 15 Tests in Australia, losing 13 and drawing two since their last series victory there in 2010/11.

"We got a small idea of what it is going to be like when we played against India - another huge series - so you are sort of ready for the extra stuff that sits around the games. We can take a lot of learnings into The Ashes. There are extra bits. The mental fatigue, a lot of cricket in a short space of time. It can take its toll mentally as well as physically so you have to have your plans.

"On the last two tours, there were a number of games, for the first two or three days, that were pretty even before Australia pulled away from us, played the conditions better than us, had better resources than us in those conditions.

"We are going there with a completely different style and way of doing things in what we can hit them with, especially with the ball. We will also be aggressive and put the pressure on with the bat."