Joe Root targets maiden century in Australia ahead of The Ashes

Joe Root (Pic: File Pic)

Ahead of The Ashes, England stalwart Joe Root is aiming to score his first-ever century in Australia.

Speaking about his aim of scoring a ton in the Australian conditions, "Having played in Australia a couple of times before, now going with 150-odd Test caps under my belt, I feel I could not be more ready for it," he said as quoted by the ICC.

"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 added.

He also said that in a previous few Ashes tours, there were several distractions coming in his way, following which he was not able to score a century.

"There were a lot of distractions. I was captain, COVID-19 (in 2021-22), there was the (Ben) Stokes incident the time before that, the Jonny (Bairstow) headbutt incident as well," he said.

But this time, the right-hander seems confident and wants to enjoy the upcoming tour.

"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," concluded the veteran of 158 Test matches.

He is the 17th-highest run-getter in all-time Ashes charts with 2,428 runs in 34 Tests and 65 innings at an average of 40.46, with four centuries and 18 fifties. His best score is 180. In the last Ashes series played at home back in 2023, Root scored 412 runs at an average of 51.50, with a century and two half-centuries to his name in nine innings, emerging as the third-highest run-getter in the series. The series ended in a two-all draw.

The first Test match of the much-anticipated Ashes is scheduled to be played at the Perth Stadium from November 21. It will be followed by four other matches, and the final game will conclude on January 8, 2026.

Joe Root was also one of the top run-scorers in the concluded Test series against Team India and has been enjoying his rich vein of form in the traditional format of the game.

(With ANI Inputs)