Joe Root Says Aussie Test Series Jibes Will Be Forgotten
Joe Root is yet to make a century in each of his 27 Test match appearances in Australian conditions
Former Australian players have been queuing to take shots about key player for some time
Initially, an ex-Australian cricketer claimed that Root requires three figures in Australia to earn the status of an "cricket great"
Then came Warner's now-famous "wave-riding board" jibe targeting the veteran cricketer
Last month, Blewett left Root out from a legendary English team on the grounds he has not reached a century in any of his 14 Tests in Australian conditions
England's star maintains unconcerned by the criticism
"They'll continue saying whatever they wish anyway so why concern myself thinking about it?" Root said
"It won't create much difference
"When we look back in five year's time people won't remember what Matthew Hayden said to me, Greg Blewett, Mark's views, whoever it is"
"People will remember the series outcome and consider it a historic England win or not"
Hayden stands as among the rare Australian voices to come out supporting Root
Reacting to the exclusion, he said he would "walk without clothes" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground this summer should Root fail to score his Australian hundred
That puts the pressure on Root unprecedentedly maybe, before the series starting on 21 November
"Perhaps that's true," the batsman admitted
"At the end of the day this series doesn't revolve around me
"When I'm batting well and scoring heavily it gives us an excellent chance to secure victory down under"
Root's Australian Record
Root has spoken about previously desiring his initial century in down under "too much"
He has a respectable average of over thirty-five in fourteen Test matches in Australia - he has nine fifties - yet his best performance is stuck under three figures at 89
Changed Situation
For this tour he travels free from the weight of captaincy, responsibilities he held on the two previous tours, while he will also be component of the batting lineup and wider squad with prospects for success appear higher compared to previous three to have made the trip
Neither Root and captain Stokes have been successful in an international Test on in Australia
"I'm traveling there under changed circumstances compared to previous visits, altered situations, significantly more experience at present and I feel like I understand completely about my batting and how I want to manage it within Australian conditions" Root said
"Naturally you need to apply that and excel at important times, yet I'm very assured with where everything is at and looking forward to the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead"
"Above all as a senior player the focus is on not just performing by making runs but every other element accompanying it"
Optimal Opportunity
Substantial time of practice sessions with young players at a Chance to Shine event in his hometown, the batsman revised his comment when questioned whether he believes this is England's best chance to secure an overseas Ashes victory during his time in the team
"Absolutely it does, if I am being brutally honest," he stated, correcting his earlier statement of "maybe"
"The thing that excites me most is traveling there with a completely different approach as a playing group"
"We will possess the ability to present them with a significantly different approach in terms of our bowling attack
"and the opportunity to potentially play several pacemen who deliver 90mph-plus consistently"
"We're not going to we'll travel there employing similar tactics and expect different results
"We'll travel there and attempt to accomplish it through altered methods which generates excitement"