Joe Root Declares Aussie Test Series Digs Are Insignificant

Australian critics have been lining up to offer opinions about star batsman for months

The comments began when an ex-Australian cricketer stated that the England batsman needs to score a hundred in Australia to earn the status of an "legendary player"

Then came Warner's well-known "surfing board" comment aimed at Root

Last month, Blewett left Root out from an all-time England lineup on the grounds he has not reached a century in all of his 14 international Tests in Australia

Root remains unbothered by the criticism

"They'll continue saying what they want in any case so why concern myself being concerned?" the experienced player said

"It doesn't produce much difference

"Looking back five years from now people won't remember what Matthew Hayden said to me, Greg's comments, Waugh's statements, whomever it might be"

"People will remember on the scoreline and view it as a historic England win or otherwise"

Matthew Hayden has been among the rare former players to come out in Root's defense

In response to Blewett's statement, he said he promised to "walk nude" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground this summer should Root fail to score his Australian hundred

That puts additional pressure on Root more than ever possibly, before the series commencing on 21 November

"Maybe it is," Root said

"When all is said and done this Australian visit doesn't revolve around me

"When I'm batting well and scoring heavily it offers us a fantastic prospect to secure victory down under"

Root's Australian Record

Root has mentioned in the past aiming for his first hundred in Australia "overly"

The player maintains a respectable average of thirty-five point six eight in 14 Tests in down under - including nine half-centuries - however his top score remains below one hundred at the eighties

Different Circumstances

For this tour he arrives without the burden of being captain, which he carried on the two previous tours, and he'll also serve as member of a batting order and complete squad having opportunities to perform well appear higher versus earlier visiting sides

Root along with and captain Stokes have achieved victory in a Test on Australian shores

"I'm traveling 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 within Australian conditions" Root said

"Obviously you must put that into practice and perform adequately at important times, but I am quite confident about my current situation and anticipating the opportunity and challenge coming up"

"Primarily as a senior player the emphasis lies in more than just performing in terms of the runs but all additional aspects accompanying it"

Prime Possibility

After two hours of training exercises alongside youth at a Chance to Shine event in Leeds, Root amended his statement when asked whether he believes this represents England's optimal opportunity to secure an overseas Ashes victory during his time with the squad

"Without question it does, if I am being brutally honest," he said, upgrading an initial assessment of "maybe"

"The aspect that excites me most is going there with a completely different approach as a playing group"

"We're going to be able to present them with a substantially altered strategy concerning our pace attack

"plus the chance to possibly field several pacemen capable of bowling 90mph-plus throughout extended spells"

"It's not like we're heading there employing similar tactics and anticipate altered outcomes

"We'll travel there and try and do it a slightly different way which is really exciting"