Ashes 2017: Joe Root determined England won't make the same mistakes again four years on from 5-0 whitewash
Speaking before the start of England’s final four-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville on Wednesday, Root says he is ready for whatever Australia throw at him
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.After being ambushed by Mitchell Johnson and the rest of Australia’s team during his first Ashes tour four years ago, Joe Root is no mood to make the same mistake again ahead of this latest series.
Now England’s captain, Root has already given a strong riposte to the pre-series mind games coming out of the Australian camp, dismissing talk of the Ashes being like “war” from David Warner and the supposed targeting of himself by Steve Smith’s team as “rubbish”.
Yet he has learned valuable lessons from his first visit here in 2013-14, when Johnson’s rampaged through England’s batting line-up on his way to taking 37 wickets and helping the hosts to a 5-0 whitewash.
Root was dropped for the final Test of that series in Sydney but averages 59.83 in Test cricket since, a run of form that helped his ascension to the captaincy earlier this year.
Now, with Johnson retired from Tests and succeeded by another Mitchell – Starc – as the spearhead of the Australian attack, Root is confident he is better prepared for the challenge this time ahead of the start of the series in Brisbane on Thursday week.
“I think me personally, I wasn’t ready,” he said of the last tour.
“Everything seemed to happen quite quickly. I think one thing for me this time will be making sure the game is played at my pace, trying to be nice and calm and collected out in the middle – and feel really ready for that aspect of Test cricket, which you do experience here in Australia.
“I think conversations about last time can be healthy, if they’re done in the right way, and I think more than anything you’ve got to look at it as a huge opportunity.
“It’s almost against all the odds, isn't it? You’re in their backyard – everyone in the ground seems to think that they’re playing for Australia, and they’ll do everything they can to help their side.
“You’ve got the opportunity to upset that, go and do something really special, playing for your country, Ashes series, lot of history – you want to be a part of that.”
Speaking before the start of England’s final four-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville on Wednesday, Root says he is ready for whatever Australia throw at him this time and is unperturbed by the pre-series trash talk.
“I just want the first Test to come round,” he said. “It’s been such a long wait. There’s been a lot of talk. Some of it exciting and some of it a load of rubbish, especially from some of the Aussie players.
“I’ve heard a lot of chat about targeting me, in particular. From our point of view, we’ll be targeting every single one of them – we won’t be singling anyone out.
“To win a Test you’ve got to take 20 wickets and score more runs than them. Of course we’ll have plans in place for each individual player but bring it on. It’s what it’s about. It should be a great series.”
Asked if he knew what Australia meant by ‘targeting’ him, Root admitted: “I don’t really know - you go into every series expecting you’re going to get targeted, as a batter.
“People are going to look at your technique, look at ways you’ve got out and try to work out what’s the best way to combat you scoring runs.
“I don’t see how that will be any different from any other series. I think it’s something they use as a tool sometimes, to try to get the crowd and the public behind it - try to get on my back verbally.
“But in terms of how I’m going to prepare, it won’t be any different to any other major series – tempo, technique-wise in practice, but mentally it might be slightly different.
“If they’re wasting energy trying harder at me, then I hope that works well for the rest of the guys.”
Pat Cummins, the quickest of Australia’s fast bowlers, believes he can reprise the role of chief destroyer Johnson held four years ago.
But questioned as to whether that sent fear through the England camp, Root said: “Fear is not the right word. Respect probably is. They have a lot of quality in their attack, but we have lots of quality in our side too.
“These are the sorts of statements you expect flying around a week or two out from the first Test of an Ashes series.
“Intimidation is always the talk. Last time that caught us out, and I think we are a bit wiser this time.
“It’s making sure we are absolutely prepared for any scenario out there, and absolutely ready for that first game, whatever they do throw at us.
“We expect it to be hostile, we expect it to be a very loud and rowdy atmosphere at the Gabba. Hopefully we are in a good place and ready for that, because I think we have got our heads round what to expect. It’s now about making sure we do whatever we can to feel ready with the bat and the ball and going out there and delivering.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments