England batter Joe Root has said his desire to score a Test century in Australia may have distracted him on previous Ashes tours. Root, who has never scored a Test hundred or won a Test in Australia, believes his experience of 158 Tests makes him better prepared for the upcoming series.
Root, 34, moved to second on the all-time Test run-scorer charts during England's recent 2-2 draw against India, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar. Despite his prolific record, he averages 35.68 in Australia from 27 innings, with nine half-centuries but no 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. “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.”
Root cited distractions from previous tours, including his captaincy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and off-field incidents involving Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. “This time, I want to just go and enjoy the tour for what it is,” he said. “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.”
The Ashes begins in Perth on November 21, with matches in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. England last won a Test in Australia during the 2010-11 series, which they also won 3-1.
