The Ashes: Joe Root says ‘no-one will remember’ criticism of his record in Australia

Root has spoken about previously wanting his first ton in Australia “too much”.

He has a respectable average of 35.68 in 14 Tests in Australia – he has nine fifties – but his high score is stuck in double digits at 89.

This time he travels without the burden of captaincy, something he had on the two previous tours, while he will also be part of a batting line-up and wider squad whose chances of succeeding appear higher than of the past three to have made the trip.

Neither Root nor captain Ben Stokes have won a Test on Australian shores.

“I go there in a completely different capacity to last time, different circumstances, a lot more experience now and I feel like I have a really good understanding of my game and how I want to manage it in the conditions,” Root said.

“Clearly you have got to put that into practice and be good enough when it really counts, but I am really comfortable with where everything is at and looking forward to the opportunity and challenge that lies ahead.

“More than anything as a senior player it is about not just performing in terms of the runs but everything else that comes with it.”

After two hours of cricket drills with youngsters at a Chance to Shine event in Leeds, Root has to correct himself when asked if he agrees this is England’s best chance to win an away Ashes during his time in the team.

“It definitely does, if I am being brutally honest,” he said, upgrading an initial assessment of “probably”.

“The thing that I’m most excited about is going there with a completely different approach as a playing group.

“We’re going to be able to hit them with something quite different in terms of our bowling attack, and the opportunity to potentially play three or four bowlers that bowl 90mph-plus for a sustained period of time.

“It’s not like we are going to go there with the same formula and expect different results.

“We are going to go there and try and do it a slightly different way which is really exciting.”

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