Joe Root Declares Aussie Test Series Digs Are Insignificant
Joe Root hasn't managed a hundred in each of his 27 Test innings in Australian conditions
Former Australian players have been queuing to take shots at England's key player for months
The comments began when a former coach claimed that Joe Root must make a hundred in down under to be regarded as an "legendary player"
Subsequently the Australian opener much-discussed "surfboard" comment targeting the England batsman
More recently, Greg Blewett left Root out from an all-time England XI due to the fact he has not reached three figures in all of his 14 Test matches in Australian conditions
Root remains unflustered by the criticism
"They are going to say what they want in any case so why bother thinking about it?" Root said
"It doesn't make a huge amount of difference
"Looking back after five years nobody will recall what Matthew Hayden commented regarding me, Greg Blewett, Mark's views, whoever it is"
"People will remember at the final result and view it as a historic England win or otherwise"
The legendary opener represents one of the few Australian voices to speak out on Root's side
In response to Blewett's claim, he declared he would "walk nude" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the upcoming season should Root fail to achieve his Australian ton
That creates additional pressure on Root more than ever possibly, ahead of the contest starting on 21 November
"Maybe it is," Root said
"Ultimately this Australian visit isn't centered on me
"If I am scoring runs and accumulating big scores it gives us a great opportunity to claim the series in Australian conditions"
Australian Statistics
The batsman has discussed earlier aiming for his first hundred in Australian conditions "too much"
The player maintains a respectable average of 35.68 in fourteen Test matches in Australia - with nine scores over fifty - yet his best performance is stuck under three figures at 89
New Context
This time he comes without carrying of being captain, which he carried on the two previous tours, and he'll also serve as part of a batting line-up and larger team whose chances of succeeding appear higher compared to previous three to have made the trip
Both Root and nor captain Ben Stokes have been successful in a Test match on in Australia
"I'm heading there under changed circumstances to last time, altered situations, much greater familiarity at present and I consider that I grasp thoroughly of my game and my approach to managing it within Australian conditions" the batsman stated
"Obviously you must put that into practice and perform adequately when it really counts, but I am quite confident with where everything is at and anticipating the opportunity and challenge awaiting us"
"More than anything being an experienced player it is about not just performing in terms of the runs but everything else related to it"
Optimal Opportunity
Substantial time of training exercises with young players during a charity event in Leeds, Root has to correct himself upon being questioned if he concurs this is their prime chance to secure an overseas Ashes victory during his time as part of the side
"Absolutely it does, being totally frank," he said, correcting his earlier statement of "maybe"
"The element which I'm most excited about is traveling there employing a fresh tactic as a playing group"
"We will possess the ability to confront them with a substantially altered strategy concerning our bowling lineup
"along with the possibility to potentially play several pacemen that bowl exceeding 90mph consistently"
"It's not like we'll travel there with the same formula and expect different results
"We're heading there and strive to achieve it through altered methods that's truly exciting"