Joe Root, formerly England’s captain, is under growing pressure as he heads into yet another Ashes series down under. In this most difficult of cricketing landscapes, he’s still not scored a century. In 14 Tests so far, Root has amassed an astounding 892 runs. His average of 35.68 though, is the lowest of any country that he has batted on more than 2 occasions. He hit nine half-centuries but found it difficult to go on and make centuries. This would be surprising at best as England strive to do better in their next Test series, the Ashes at home to Australia.
Root’s stint down under hasn’t been short on adversity. He faced one of the finest bowling attacks in the world, with additional world-class bowlers such as Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc. For instance, during the 2017-18 Ashes series, Australia brutally exposed Joe Root’s vulnerabilities by peppering him with a leg before wicket tactic. The above worked really well for them. During that 2021-22 Ashes series, things went disastrously wrong for Root. Seven of his ten dismissals were from balls going on to pitch between six to eight meters from the stumps. Most tellingly, nine of those dismissals were from deliveries that seamed away, illustrating the problems he has on Australian pitches.
Even with the difficulties aforementioned, Root’s numbers against spinners in Australia are very good. He averages 74.33. He scores almost a quarter of his runs, 20% of what nerds like us refer to as his “controlled runs.” The vast majority of these are from behind square on the off side. His mean increases to 63 when he’s up against short balls. That’s indicative of someone who can make the most of positive service on deliveries!
The numbers tell the story of Root’s continued woes against the Australian bowling arsenal. During the last three Tests of the 2021-22 series, Scott Boland bowled at Joe Root 74 times, 74 balls, an entire innings’ worth of deliveries. He fanned Root four times while surrendering just 39 runs. Despite his potential, these figures illustrate the struggles Root has faced in finding his rhythm. Scoring freely against Australia’s top-notch attack has been a genuine struggle for him.
Given Root’s personal record in Australia, it’s perhaps the most daunting task of all. He carries an unwanted distinction – never having won a Test match on Australian soil. The sole, glaring statistic only intensifies the pressure on his preparations. He prepares himself knowing that it could be a defining series for both him and England as a team. The psychological burden of past failures is sure to be a heavy one on him as he looks to break this streak that nobody wants to continue.
Reflecting on his upcoming tour, Root acknowledges that he enters this series with a different mindset compared to previous years. “I go there in a completely different capacity to last time, different circumstances, a lot more experience now and I feel like I have a really good understanding of my game and how I want to manage it in these conditions,” he stated.
His exit from the Test captaincy may well affect his mindset at the crease, too. Without that burden of leadership duties, Root can concentrate more on his batting. It’s this new freedom that’s letting him explore new ways to tackle those unique Australian pitch challenges.
Michael Vaughan, a former England captain and expert commentator, has offered insights into the specific batting techniques that may benefit Root in Australia. He noted, “They say in Australia horizontal bat shots are the way to go because if it bounces it will fly over the top.” Vaughan elaborated further, emphasizing that “those straight-batted shots in Australia, back-foot punches, are OK after 30 or 40 overs when the Kookaburra is a bit softer… but in the first 10 or 15 overs… there is a chance it bounces more than you expect.”
The risks involved in technique that is not suited to Australian pitches were echoed by Alastair Cook, another former England captain. He remarked, “When the pitches are a bit quicker, that is more of a high-risk shot.” This counsel might ring familiar to Root as he gears up for potentially series-deciding innings on the line, which might shape his career.
Even given these challenges and pressures, Root’s form going into this series has been encouraging. In 2025 so far, he has scored at a staggering average of 63.44 in red-ball cricket. At the same time, since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge in 2022, he has hit 14 Test centuries. This recent form suggests that he possesses the capability to rise to the occasion and deliver when it matters most.
Root, meanwhile, will be preparing for another challenging Test series down under in the Ashes. Fans and analysts alike are hanging on his every footstep. His pecuniary aptitude for making fertile launches into profitable bullseyes just might decide his fate. It should help propel the success of the England national team even further.
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