England veteran Joe Root is determined to break his century drought in Australia when his side travels Down Under for the eagerly-awaited Ashes series, starting November 21 in Perth.
Root, who recently scaled to the No.2 position among the highest run-getters in Test cricket, will board the flight to Australia for a five-match Test series against the Aussies that will form part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle and for the No.1 ranked Test batter the series will take on extra significance given his past struggles with the bat in Australia.
While Root is winless in Tests against the Aussies away from home across 14 previous contests, it’s the fact he has never scored a century on Australian shores that still concerns the 34-year-old heading into this year’s tour.
Root has scored nine half-centuries and averages a decent 35.68 from 27 Test innings in Australia, but the veteran right-hander is yet to reach triple figures in an Ashes series away from home despite having registered an impressive 39 Test centuries across his glittering career.
But Root thinks he still remains at the peak of his powers and is confident he can end the jinx and bring up that elusive Test century in Australia during the upcoming battle for the Ashes.
“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. 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 said.
England’s tour of Australia will be crucial for the side’s hopes of qualifying or a first World Test Championship Final, with the team currently sitting in fourth place on the standings following the recent 2-2 draw with India on home soil.
A positive result in Australia will be important for England and Root thinks the side is better prepared this time than they were on previous visits to the southern hemisphere.
“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, 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,” he added.
While the first Ashes Test will be played in Perth from November 21-25, the second Test will be hosted at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 4-8. The series will then move to Adelaide for the third Test, running from December 17-21 before the two sides face off after a brief Christmas break, with the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26-30. The series will culminate with the New Year’s Test in Sydney from January 4-8, 2026.