Joe Root’s Ashes quest: Why Australia remains his final frontier

Joe Root's Ashes quest: Why Australia remains his final frontier

Joe Root, England's premier batter, has conquered nearly every challenge in Test cricket-except one: scoring a century in Australia. As the 2025 Ashes series looms, the question persists: why has this milestone eluded him, and can he finally break through?

The numbers behind the struggle

Across 14 Tests in Australia, Root has amassed 892 runs at an average of 35.68-his lowest in any country where he's played more than twice. While nine fifties in Australia place him among England's most consistent performers there this century, the absence of a three-figure score stands out. His struggles are particularly pronounced against pace bowling, averaging just 26.2 against full or good-length deliveries, compared to a formidable 74.33 against spinners.

Analysts point to Root's reliance on scoring behind square on the off side-a strength elsewhere but a vulnerability on Australia's quicker, bouncier pitches. Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook both note that his signature late glide through third man becomes riskier in these conditions, where extra bounce can turn a controlled shot into an edge.

Australia's evolving tactics

Early in Root's career, Australia targeted his front pad, dismissing him lbw twice in the 2017-18 series. Yet recent data reveals a shift: only 10% of deliveries bowled to him in the past two Ashes series would have hit the stumps. Instead, Australia has exploited his tendency to steer deliveries wide of off stump, with eight of his 10 dismissals in 2021-22 caught between wicketkeeper and gully.

One bowler has proven especially troublesome: Scott Boland. In the 2021-22 series, Boland dismissed Root four times in 74 deliveries, conceding just 39 runs. Though Root dominated Boland in England's 2023 Ashes, averaging 63 off 75 balls without dismissal, the Victorian's absence from the 2025 series opener (due to Pat Cummins' injury) could be pivotal. Root's records against Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon suggest opportunity-but Boland's potential return looms large.

"They say in Australia horizontal bat shots are the way to go because if it bounces it will fly over the top. Those straight-batted shots early on, when the Kookaburra is hard, can bounce more than you expect."

Michael Vaughan, former England captain

A captain no more

Root's six failures to convert fifties into centuries in Australia came during his captaincy tenure, often after grueling fielding stints. Now freed from leadership duties, he insists his approach has evolved. "I'm a different player now," he said in September. "I've got a clearer understanding of my game and how to manage these conditions."

His recent form-14 Test centuries since 2022 and a 2025 average of 63.44-suggests a batter at his peak. Yet Australia's pace-friendly pitches and a history of early-series dismissals (eight of 10 in 2021-22 came from full-length deliveries seaming away) remain hurdles. As Vaughan notes, "Bowling good-length balls that move away isn't rocket science-it's cricket's oldest trick."

The path forward

Root's self-awareness may be key. He admits to previously "wanting the ton too much" but now emphasizes adaptability. With Cummins sidelined for the series opener and Root's strong record against Starc and Lyon, the stage is set. Yet Boland's potential return-and Root's 9.8 average against him in Australia-adds intrigue.

As the phony war ends and the first Test approaches, one truth remains: only a century will silence the narrative. For Root, the time is now.