England’s ace batter Joe Root has set his sights on the forthcoming Ashes 2025-26, starting from November 21 in Perth. The right-handed batter has been in his red-hot form in recent matches and is expected to carry the same level of confidence for the forthcoming 5-match test series against Australia.
Root has been a reliable batter for England across all formats, particularly in tests. Despite boasting a record of 39 centuries to his name in the longest format, the 34-year-old is yet to accomplish a triple-digit figure on Australian soil.
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is confident enough that this could be the year for Root to score his maiden test century in Australia. Let’s find out how Ponting’s concept works favorably for the experienced English batter despite his favoritism towards Aussies.
Are Aussies the Favorite Opponent for Root?
Joe Root amassed 2,428 runs in 65 test innings against Australia. This is the second most in his test cricket career against any team after India (3,383 runs in 64 innings).
So, it is likely that Root will turn up against his favorite opponent, Australia, in the series opener at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
A Well-Experienced Player Than Ever Before
Ricky Ponting believes that Joe Root has become a mature player and gained more experience as a No.3 batter in tests than ever before.
In 14 tests played on the Australian soil, Root scored 892 runs, averaging above 35, including nine fifties to his name.
Regardless of his performance on the highly bouncy pitches in Australia, he has been able to counterattack against the quality pace bowling of the Aussies.
Fabulous Test Cricket Performance in the Last 18 Months
Ricky Ponting has been observing Joe Root’s improvised batting style for more than one and a half years. He believes that the veteran English batter ensured avoiding the repetition of mistakes that caused his dismissal at the early stages of an inning.
Since January 2024, Root has piled up 14,205 runs in his test career out of 41 innings played. This shows his consistency and the intent to accumulate runs in the traditional format of cricket.
Yet another challenge arises for Joe Root to enhance his consistency levels and end his test-century drought on Australian soil.
