Joe Root Says Australian Test Series Digs Are Insignificant

Former Australian players have been queuing to make comments at England's key player for some time

First it was a former coach suggested that the England batsman must make a hundred in down under to be regarded as an "all-time great"

Following that Warner's well-known "wave-riding board" jibe targeting Root

More recently, another former Australian player omitted Root from a historical English team because he's failed to score a hundred in each of his 14 Tests in Australia

The batsman stays unflustered by the criticism

"They will keep stating exactly what they choose anyway so why bother worrying about it?" the 34-year-old said

"It doesn't produce a huge amount of difference

"When we look back after five years nobody will recall what Matthew Hayden commented regarding me, Blewett's opinions, Waugh's statements, whomever it might be"

"They are going to look back on the scoreline and think that is a historic England win or not"

Hayden stands as one of the few commentators to speak out on Root's side

Reacting to Blewett's claim, he declared he promised to "walk without clothes" throughout the Melbourne stadium this summer if Root does not achieve his Australian ton

This places expectations for Root more than ever possibly, prior to the matches which begins on the 21st of November

"Perhaps that's true," the batsman admitted

"At the end of the day this Australian visit doesn't revolve around me

"Should I make runs and making substantial contributions it gives us a great opportunity to win a series in Australian conditions"

Performance in Australia

Root has spoken in the past desiring his initial century in Australian conditions "excessively"

Root possesses a reasonable average of thirty-five point six eight in 14 Tests in Australian venues - including nine half-centuries - yet his best performance remains in double digits at eighty-nine

Different Circumstances

For this tour he comes without the burden of being captain, responsibilities he held on the two previous tours, while he will also be component of the batting lineup and wider squad with prospects to perform well look improved versus earlier three to have made the trip

Neither Root plus skipper Stokes have achieved victory in a Test match on Australian soil

"I go there with a totally different role versus earlier tours, changed conditions, a lot more experience currently and I feel like I understand completely about my batting and how I want to manage it down under" Root said

"Obviously you must put that into practice and perform adequately during crucial moments, yet I'm quite confident regarding my preparation and looking forward to the challenge and opportunity awaiting us"

"More than anything as a senior player the focus is on more than just performing through scoring runs but all additional aspects related to it"

Prime Possibility

Substantial time of practice sessions with youngsters at a Chance to Shine event in Yorkshire, Root amended his statement when asked if he agrees this is England's best chance to secure an overseas Ashes victory throughout his career in the team

"It definitely does, being totally frank," he stated, upgrading an initial assessment of "probably"

"The aspect that I'm most anticipating is traveling there employing a fresh tactic collectively"

"We will possess the ability to confront them with a significantly different approach in terms of our bowling lineup

"along with the possibility to potentially play multiple fast bowlers capable of bowling exceeding 90mph for a sustained period"

"It's not like we'll travel there with the same formula and expect different results

"We're heading there and attempt to accomplish it using modified approaches that's truly exciting"