Root Declares Aussie Test Series Digs Won't Be Remembered

Former Australian players have been waiting to take shots at England's veteran cricketer for months

First it was a former coach claimed that the England batsman needs to score a century in Australian conditions to earn the status of an "all-time great"

Subsequently Warner's well-known "surfing board" comment aimed at the veteran cricketer

Last month, Greg Blewett excluded Root from an all-time England lineup on the grounds he has not reached three figures in any of his 14 international Tests in down under

England's star maintains unflustered regarding the remarks

"They'll continue saying what they want in any case so why concern myself being concerned?" the experienced player stated

"It doesn't make a huge amount of difference

"When we look back five years from now no-one is going to remember what Matthew Hayden said to me, Greg's comments, Mark's views, whomever it might be"

"Everyone will recall on the scoreline and view it as an English victory or the opposite"

Matthew Hayden stands as a minority of Australian voices to speak out in Root's defense

In response to the exclusion, he stated he promised to "go naked" throughout the Melbourne stadium during the upcoming season should Root fail to score his Australian hundred

That creates additional pressure on Root more than ever maybe, ahead of the contest commencing on 21 November

"Possibly so," Root acknowledged

"At the end of the day this tour is not about me

"When I'm batting well and scoring heavily it gives us a great opportunity to claim the series down under"

Australian Statistics

The batsman has discussed earlier desiring his initial century in down under "overly"

The player maintains a respectable average of thirty-five point six eight in 14 Tests in Australia - including nine half-centuries - yet his best performance remains below one hundred at eighty-nine

Different Circumstances

On this occasion he comes without carrying of captaincy, which he carried on the two previous tours, and he'll also serve as member of a batting order and wider squad having opportunities for success appear higher than of the past visiting sides

Neither Root nor captain Ben Stokes have won an international Test on Australian soil

"I'm heading there in a completely different capacity versus earlier tours, altered situations, significantly more experience now and I believe I understand completely regarding my technique and how I plan to handle it down under" the batsman stated

"Naturally you need to implement that and perform adequately during crucial moments, yet I'm very assured regarding my preparation and eager for the challenge and opportunity coming up"

"Above all as a senior player it is about more than just performing by making runs but all additional aspects accompanying it"

Prime Possibility

After two hours of training exercises with young players at a promotional activity in Leeds, Root has to correct himself when questioned if he concurs this is their prime chance to claim an Ashes series abroad in his playing years in the team

"Without question it does, to be completely honest," he said, upgrading an initial assessment of "probably"

"The element which I'm most excited about is heading there with a totally new strategy collectively"

"We'll have the capability to hit them with a significantly different approach concerning our bowling attack

"and the opportunity to possibly field several pacemen who deliver 90mph-plus for a sustained period"

"It's not like we'll travel there employing similar tactics and hope for changed results

"We'll travel there and attempt to accomplish it through altered methods which is really exciting"