Joe Root States Australian Ashes Digs Will Be Forgotten
Joe Root hasn't managed a century in all of his 27 international innings in Australia
Former Australian players have been lining up to make comments about veteran cricketer for months
Initially, Darren Lehmann claimed that Joe Root must make three figures in Australian conditions to be regarded as an "legendary player"
Subsequently the Australian opener now-famous "wave-riding board" remark directed toward the England batsman
Last month, Greg Blewett omitted Root from a historical England XI because he's failed to score three figures in each of his 14 Test matches in Australia
England's star maintains unbothered by the criticism
"They will keep stating exactly what they choose in any case so why bother worrying about it?" the 34-year-old commented
"It doesn't make significant change
"In retrospect five years from now no-one is going to remember what Matthew Hayden commented regarding me, Blewett's opinions, Mark Waugh, anyone else"
"Everyone will recall on the scoreline and view it as an English victory or not"
Hayden stands as a minority of Australian voices to stand up supporting Root
Addressing the exclusion, he said he promised to "walk without clothes" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the coming months if Root does not score his Australian hundred
This places the pressure on Root like never before perhaps, prior to the matches starting on November 21st
"Possibly so," Root said
"When all is said and done this Australian visit is not about me
"Should I make runs and accumulating big scores it gives us a great opportunity to claim the series out in Australia"
Performance in Australia
Root has mentioned in the past desiring his initial century in Australian conditions "too much"
He has a decent average of 35.68 in numerous Tests in down under - he has nine fifties - but his high score remains under three figures at the eighties
Different Circumstances
On this occasion he comes without carrying of leadership, something he had on the two previous tours, and he'll also serve as part of a batting line-up and complete squad whose chances of succeeding look improved versus earlier visiting sides
Root along with and captain Stokes have won an international Test on Australian shores
"I go there in a completely different capacity to last time, altered situations, much greater familiarity now and I feel like I grasp thoroughly about my batting and how I plan to handle it in the conditions" the batsman stated
"Naturally you need to implement that and perform adequately at important times, however I feel very assured with where everything is at and eager for the challenge and opportunity awaiting us"
"Above all in my veteran role the emphasis lies in beyond simply achieving in terms of the runs but everything else related to it"
Prime Possibility
Following 120 minutes of practice sessions with youngsters at a promotional activity in Yorkshire, Root amended his statement when questioned if he agrees this is their prime chance to win an away Ashes in his playing years in the team
"It definitely does, if I am being brutally honest," he stated, upgrading an initial assessment of "maybe"
"The element which excites me most is traveling there employing a fresh tactic as a team"
"We will possess the ability to hit them with a substantially altered strategy in terms of our pace attack
"plus the chance to maybe include several pacemen that bowl over ninety miles per hour for a sustained period"
"It isn't as if we are going to go there employing similar tactics and expect different results
"We are going to go there and attempt to accomplish it a slightly different way that's truly exciting"
