Chris Stocks talks to Joe Root about his mission to succeed in next year’s Ashes series Down Under
Joe Root knows true greatness will come only when he scores big runs in a successful away Ashes series, so it’s no surprise he is preparing for that now even during England’s current series against Pakistan.
The Yorkshireman currently sits second in the world Test rankings and is likely to reclaim the No1 spot by the end of the summer if he continues the form that has seen him average 67 since England’s last trip Down Under in 2013-14.
That ended with Root dropped for the final Test and England losing the Ashes series 5-0.
Things, though, have changed markedly since then, Root starring across all formats and, after his career-best 254 in the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford, talk of him already being an all-time England great is being bandied about.
At the age of 25, Root has much still yet to achieve in his career. Indeed, his potential appears limitless despite his dismissal for three in the first innings at Edgbaston.
One of his biggest examinations will come in 18 months when England go back to Australia to try and avenge the humiliating whitewash on that last tour.
Root, although concentrating on the current series with Pakistan and mindful of the tour to India in the winter, does admit he already has one eye on Australia.
“In practice you are always looking ahead and thinking ‘what can I add to my game that will help me further down the line?’,” he says.
“Me and a few of the other guys are doing things now to get us ready for Australia and India and playing on different surfaces so that you don’t just turn up and say ‘I need to do this and I need to do that’, you’ve already got a base layer in your locker before you get there.
“Of course it would be immense to be on a winning tour in Australia having scored a lot of runs, but a lot can happen in a year, let alone 18 months time, and if it all goes wrong I might not even be on the trip!”
All being well, that next Ashes series is likely to be a duel between England and Australia for the No1 spot in the world Test rankings.
It is also likely to be mirrored by the battle between Steve Smith, left, Australia’s captain who is currently the top-ranked batsman, and Root for the right to be classed as the best in the game.
Root says: “You always want to be as good as you can be. I still feel there is more I can improve in my game. If I do that it will hopefully take me up to No1.
“I’m not going into any game thinking if I get a big score here I am going to be the best batter in the world. It is more about playing what is in front of you and (if you do) all that will take care of itself.
“If you want to be the best in the world, by contributions that is how you are going to get there. By making consistently big scores.
“That’s my challenge moving forward. I have to strive to score big 100s, big 200s and getting us into positions where we can win games. The rest will look after itself.”
The batting masterclass Root produced against Pakistan at Old Trafford did just that for England, who won the game by 330 runs to level the series.
But ranking it alongside his other career highlights – including his match-winning hundreds against Australia in Cardiff last summer and South Africa in Johannesburg last winter – is difficult.
“It was definitely a very proud moment for me,” said Root. “But I always find it hard to compare different hundreds because there are so many different scenarios you have to weigh up.
“The one at Cardiff against Australia was the opening match of a Test series so for that reason it made it very special.
“To win the series in South Africa in Johannesburg was again a very good feeling to be a part of such an entertaining game and a good series away from home, and then in different circumstances we have last week.
“It is very hard to compare them all but it was still a very pleasing knock and one that will be right up there.”
England hope there will be many more to come.
This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper, Friday August 5 2016
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