Joe Root States Aussie Ashes Jibes Will Be Forgotten

Former Australian players have been queuing to offer opinions about star batsman throughout the year

The comments began when an ex-Australian cricketer suggested that Joe Root needs to score a century in down under to be regarded as an "cricket great"

Following that the Australian opener well-known "surfboard" jibe directed toward the veteran cricketer

More recently, another former Australian player excluded Root from a historical English team due to the fact he hasn't achieved a hundred in all of his 14 Tests in Australia

Root remains unbothered by the criticism

"They'll continue saying what they want regardless so why worry being concerned?" Root said

"It doesn't produce much difference

"In retrospect five years from now people won't remember what Matthew Hayden commented regarding me, Blewett's opinions, Mark Waugh, whoever it is"

"They are going to look back at the final result and consider it an English victory or not"

Matthew Hayden has been a minority of commentators to stand up in Root's defense

Addressing the exclusion, he said he'd "walk nude" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground this summer should Root fail to scratch his Australian century itch

This places the pressure on Root more than ever maybe, ahead of the contest starting on the 21st of November

"Possibly so," Root acknowledged

"When all is said and done this tour is not about me

"When I'm batting well and making substantial contributions it provides us a great opportunity to secure victory out in Australia"

Australian Statistics

Root has spoken about previously wanting his first ton in down under "overly"

He has a decent average of 35.68 in 14 Tests in down under - with nine scores over fifty - however his top score remains below one hundred at 89

New Context

For this tour he comes without the burden of being captain, which he carried on prior Australian trips, while he will also be member of a batting order and wider squad having opportunities to perform well appear higher compared to previous three English teams that toured

Neither Root nor captain Ben Stokes have been successful in a Test match on Australian soil

"I'm traveling there under changed circumstances to last time, altered situations, a lot more experience now and I believe I understand completely about my batting and my approach to managing it within Australian conditions" the batsman stated

"Clearly you have got to implement that and excel during crucial moments, yet I'm very assured regarding my preparation and anticipating the challenge and opportunity coming up"

"Primarily in my veteran role the emphasis lies in not just performing by making runs but every other element accompanying it"

Optimal Opportunity

Substantial time of training exercises alongside youth at a Chance to Shine event in Leeds, Root has to correct himself upon being questioned if he agrees this is England's best chance to secure an overseas Ashes victory throughout his career with the squad

"Without question it does, to be completely honest," he commented, revising his first response of "perhaps"

"The element which excites me most is heading there employing a fresh tactic collectively"

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

"plus the chance to possibly field three or four bowlers capable of bowling 90mph-plus throughout extended spells"

"It's not like we're heading there with the same formula and hope for changed results

"We'll travel there and attempt to accomplish it a slightly different way which generates excitement"