Root Declares Australian Ashes Comments Will Be Forgotten

Australian critics have been queuing to take shots at England's veteran cricketer for months

Initially, a former coach claimed that Joe Root needs to score three figures in down under to be regarded as an "cricket great"

Then came David Warner well-known "surfing board" comment directed toward the veteran cricketer

More recently, Greg Blewett omitted Root from an all-time England XI because he has not reached a hundred in any of his 14 Test matches in Australian conditions

The batsman stays unbothered regarding the remarks

"They will keep stating exactly what they choose in any case so why bother worrying about it?" the experienced player commented

"It doesn't produce much difference

"In retrospect five years from now people won't remember the comments from Hayden commented regarding me, Greg Blewett, Mark's views, whomever it might be"

"People will remember the series outcome and view it as an English victory or otherwise"

Hayden has been a minority of commentators to stand up on Root's side

Addressing Blewett's claim, he said he'd "walk without clothes" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the coming months if Root does not score his Australian hundred

This places expectations for Root more than ever perhaps, before the series which begins on November 21st

"Maybe it is," Root acknowledged

"At the end of the day this Australian visit is not about me

"When I'm batting well and making substantial contributions it gives us a great opportunity to claim the series down under"

Performance in Australia

Root has mentioned in the past wanting his first ton in Australia "too much"

Root possesses a respectable average of thirty-five point six eight in 14 Tests in down under - he has nine fifties - however his top score stands below one hundred at the eighties

Different Circumstances

For this tour he travels without carrying of being captain, responsibilities he held on prior Australian trips, and he'll also serve as member of a batting order and larger team having opportunities of succeeding seem better than of the past three English teams that toured

Neither Root and captain Stokes have been successful in a Test on Australian soil

"I go there with a totally different role to last time, altered situations, a lot more experience currently and I feel like I understand completely of my game and my approach to managing it down under" Root explained

"Obviously you must implement that and be good enough when it really counts, but I am very assured with where everything is at and looking forward to the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead"

"Primarily as a senior player the focus is on beyond simply achieving through scoring runs but all additional aspects accompanying it"

Optimal Opportunity

Following 120 minutes of practice sessions with young players during a charity event in Yorkshire, Root amended his statement when asked if he concurs this is their prime chance to claim an Ashes series abroad throughout his career as part of the side

"Without question it does, if I am being brutally honest," he stated, correcting his earlier statement of "maybe"

"The element which I'm most anticipating is going there with a completely different approach as a team"

"We're going to be able to present them with a significantly different approach regarding our bowling attack

"plus the chance to possibly field several pacemen that bowl over ninety miles per hour for a sustained period"

"We're not going to we're heading there with the same formula and anticipate altered outcomes

"We're heading there and attempt to accomplish it through altered methods that's truly exciting"