Joe Root admits he ‘wanted it too much’ on previous tours of Australia, as he looks ahead to this year’s Ashes series

The England captain refused to buy into a war of words with counterpart Tim Paine and won’t be stoking any fires for the Australians ahead of the first Test in just over a month’s time.

Root – the world’s top Test batsman with 23 hundreds to his name – has never made a Test century in Australia and although his record shows he is his country’s most successful captain, he needs an Ashes kill down under to cement his name in the pantheon of iconic England skippers.

After a couple of rocky trips to Australia, a 30-year-old Root says he’s returning with a wiser head on his shoulders and is ready to tackle the Aussie onslaught with Ben Stokes riding shotgun.

“I look at the last two times we’ve been out in Australia and from a personal point of view, it’s the one series where you’re desperate to go and stamp your mark on it and play with authority and have that big series like Cooky (Alastair Cook) had for example (in 2010-11) and come away having won an Ashes series in Australia,” said Root.

“That’s the dream.

“I probably wanted it too much. I was too desperate and it had a negative impact on the way I went and played. I put too much pressure on myself.

“One of the things that’s really helped me this year is stripping a little bit of that back. Really going in and enjoying my cricket and enjoying my batting and having a bit more clarity and understanding of my own game.”

Root says he no longer fears the challenge of Australia in Australia, with India’s victory last summer also helping to demystify the task at hand.

“One thing I have got coming into this series is a lot more evidence and information on those conditions (in Australia) than the last two tours,” he said.

“That will stand me in good stead as well, but also just making sure I’m fully prepared for what we’re going to be coming up against.

“The Australian attack has been very similar for a good period of time now. There’s a lot of information and knowledge that we can do and prepare ourselves for ahead of the series if you’re putting that work and practice in and make sure that whatever is thrown up you’re ready to face it and counter it.”

Former England greats led by Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain claim Australian skipper Paine is not popular in the England camp after making what they perceived to be “disrespectful” comments when the Ashes series was still up in the air due to biosecurity issues.

Paine declared on his radio show that the Ashes would be going ahead “whether Joe Root is here or not.”

Vaughan said it was a cheap shot given how little Australia had toured during Covid while England were bubble weary – but Root refused to buy into any feud as he made it clear he wouldn’t be commenting on the Australians pre-series, conscious of feeding motivations further.

“I didn’t really look too much into it to be honest. Australia have not had a huge amount of Test cricket during this period and as with all the players likely to be involved, an Ashes series is one thing that everyone wants to go ahead and be playing and be involved in and we’re very grateful of the situation we find ourselves in right now,” said Root.

“I’m very wary about commenting too much on Australia, I don’t think that’s the right approach for us.”

Root revealed his team would only be spending three days in isolation upon their arrival into Australian quarantine in Brisbane, and would otherwise be free to roam around their resort and train at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium.

He declined to comment on whether England would be prepared to travel to Perth for a fifth Test if they were required to go into a bubble to satisfy border restrictions with WA, and said that would be up to Cricket Australia and the England Cricket Board to work out.

Root said 11th hour addition Ben Stokes would make a massive difference to the Ashes but warned his bowling loads need to lift for him to be able to contribute with the ball in the first Test.

“I know for a fact he’s been netting properly again, hitting balls properly again which is really positive. One of the things we’ll have to manage well is making sure his workloads are up with ball in hand and that he doesn’t go in lightly with his work ahead of that first game,” said Root.

“Apart from that, he’s coming along nicely, but it’s managing those expectations and making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible and according to plan.

“The conditions that we’re going to, if you look how he performed in his debut series out there in 2013-14, that hundred he scored, five for in the last Test match shows he can perform in those conditions and those sort of wickets suit the style of player that he is.”

Stokes downplays importance of Ashes return

Ben Stokes says he is excited at the prospect of facing Australia in the Ashes as he prepares to return following a long break to focus on his mental health and recover from a finger injury.

The 30-year-old, who has not played any cricket since July, was added to Chris Silverwood’s 17-man squad last month.

Joe Root’s men fly to Australia on Thursday for the five-Test series beginning on December 8 in Brisbane and Stokes said he was raring to go.

“I took it day by day and had fantastic support around me,” Stokes told Sky Sports.

“I’m excited to get out there and can’t wait to see everyone.”

The all-rounder’s return is a major boost for England, who are seeking their first series win “Down Under” since 2010-11.

Stokes made his Ashes debut in 2013-14, scoring a maiden Test century in tough batting conditions in Perth but failed to prevent a 5-0 whitewash.

He cemented his reputation as England’s talisman during the 2019 Ashes in England, hitting an unbeaten 135 as the home side successfully chased a record fourth-innings target of 359 at Headingley with one wicket remaining.

Stokes missed England’s last tour of Australia four years ago after his involvement in a brawl outside a nightclub. He was subsequently found not guilty of affray.

But the Durham player attempted to downplay the significance of his return.

“One player doesn’t make a team,” he said.

“Every member of that team is just as important. Everyone’s capable of winning that match by themselves.”

England captain Root also sought to temper expectations about the return of the all-rounder.

“He’s got a lot of work to do to get himself back to the Ben Stokes we all know,” said the skipper.

“He is a massive asset. We are going to have periods of play where it’s going to be very challenging.

“We’re going to have people stick their hands up and grab the game — he is someone who will always do that.”

- AFP