Joe Root’s name and Test centuries are almost inseparable — except when the venue is Australia. Despite being one of England’s greatest batters, the elusive hundred down under continues to haunt him. As the Ashes return, many wonder if this is finally the series where he conquers his last frontier.
A consistent scorer, yet not enough
Root has featured in 14 Tests in Australia and collected 892 runs — a respectable figure but far from his usual standards. He has managed nine fifties, but his average of 35.68 is his lowest in any country he has visited more than twice. The issue isn’t a lack of form; it’s about converting those starts. On bouncier Australian wickets, Root’s trademark late glide behind point becomes a risky shot, often leading to edges. Former captain Michael Vaughan notes that “the extra bounce turns one of his strengths into a danger.”
Trouble against the quicks
Root’s challenges in Australia have primarily come against pace. While he averages over 70 against spin there, his numbers plummet when facing full or good-length balls from fast bowlers. Deliveries seaming away from him have been his undoing. Critics once believed Australia targeted his front pad, but recent data shows most dismissals have been caught behind rather than lbw. The bounce and movement of the Kookaburra ball have been enough to draw him into mistakes.
The Boland battle and beyond
Few bowlers have troubled Root more than Scott Boland. During the 2021–22 Ashes, Boland dismissed him four times in three Tests, often by teasing him outside off stump. However, when they met again in England in 2023, Root dominated the contest. With Pat Cummins out of the opening game and Root holding solid records against Starc and Lyon, his duel with Boland could define this series. Has Root solved that puzzle, or were home conditions the real difference?
Relief from the captaincy burden
This time, Root travels lighter — not just in luggage but in responsibility. As a former captain, he often arrived at the crease after long spells in the field, mentally drained. Now, with Ben Stokes leading the side, Root can focus purely on batting. He enters this series averaging above 60 since 2022 and playing with greater freedom under Brendon McCullum’s aggressive approach. The hunger remains, but the pressure has eased.
Joe Root and centuries usually go hand in hand. But until he crafts one on Australian soil, his story as England’s modern batting great will always feel a touch unfinished.
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