Joe Root arrives in Australia without having scored an Ashes hundred on Australian soil — a fact the local press were quick to flag as he touched down for this winter’s series. But Nasser Hussain argues Root is well placed to break that duck. He examines why a century has been elusive so far, what’s driving Root on his fourth Ashes tour, and why team success matters as much as individual milestones.
Root’s form and mindset
Root looks to be in a very good place. He clearly enjoys playing alongside Ben Stokes and seems at ease with the current setup. His batting has been consistent for a long time and over the past couple of years he has taken that consistency to another level. The old criticism about not converting 70s and 80s is largely gone — he now turns big scores into hundreds more often than not. He plays with a smile, is pleasing on the eye, has excellent touch, and carries himself as a fine ambassador for the game. Last summer’s gesture of putting on the headband in tribute to Graham Thorpe after an Oval century was a small but telling example.
Why an Australian Ashes hundred has been hard to find
There are several clear reasons Root hasn’t yet reached three figures in Australia. First, he’s often met top-line pace and spin: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon — with Scott Boland as strong support — form one of the most potent bowling attacks in world cricket. Cummins in particular has been a persistent thorn: across Tests in England and Australia he has dismissed Root 11 times. Cummins’ skill, length and late movement can make him seem even quicker and he’s hit the right areas to rush Root and bring edges and lbw into play.
Second, Root’s favored scoring shot — the late, soft-handed run-down to third man — can be troubled by Australia’s extra bounce. Even when he plays late and soft, the higher bounce can carry the ball to the cordon and produce nick-offs. He’s also shown some vulnerability in that corridor of fourth and fifth stump where deliveries can either nip back to hit the pad or the edge.
Third, the added responsibility of captaincy on recent tours has taken its toll. The 2021/22 trip, in particular, came with extra pressures and COVID-era complications that Rob Key and others have highlighted. When a tour goes wrong, the mental load grows and batting in difficult team situations — for example coming out at 20-2 — makes big individual scores harder to come by.
Context matters more than the headline
When a newspaper ran an “Average Joe” headline on his arrival, it was the kind of provocation Root won’t worry about. His focus, Hussain says, is simple: win the Ashes for Ben Stokes and for the current regime. Personal landmarks would be nice, but the priority is team success.
There’s a link between Root getting runs and England regaining the urn — a prolific series from their No. 1 batter would certainly help, just as Marnus Labuschagne or Steve Smith have carried Australia in recent campaigns. But the obsession with an away Ashes century is overplayed. Root would love one, and a century in Perth would silence the chatter, yet it shouldn’t overshadow the bigger aim: winning more Tests than Australia over the coming weeks.
If Root scores hundreds but England lose the series, that’s a bittersweet outcome. Conversely, a few 90s or even steady 50s that help England win the Ashes would be a far better legacy. Ultimately, his machine-like reliability — arriving at the crease intent on runs every time — is what counts, and Hussain expects him to approach this tour with that same mindset.
The schedule (UK & Ireland times)
First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
Bottom line: Root has the technique, temperament and form to finally reach that Australian Ashes hundred. The challenge is formidable, but his focus remains squarely on runs that help England win matches rather than on headlines about personal landmarks.