Every great cricketer carries an unfinished chapter in his career. For Joe Root, that missing piece lies under the blazing Australian sun. Over the last three years, Root has shown remarkable consistency in Test cricket. He has averaged more than 60 in Test cricket and proved himself as one of England’s finest red-ball batsmen.
The 34-year-old's name stands just behind Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list of Test run-scorers. Yet, one gap still marks his record; he has never scored a century in Australia. That wait could finally end this English winter. The 2025–26 Ashes series gives Root another chance to conquer conditions that have often tested his patience and skill.
The first Test starts on November 21 in Perth and sets the tone for a five-match contest that runs into early January. Speaking to Sky Sports at a celebrity padel event in Sheffield, Root sounded calm and confident. He said he feels more balanced and experienced than on previous tours.
Without the strain of captaincy, Root now focuses fully on his batting. He admitted that people will talk about his missing hundred but said he wants to help England win back the urn. The 34-year-old believes personal milestones will follow once the team achieves its goal. His calming confidence shows a man ready to face his unfinished business.
“I feel I’m in a different place than when I last went out there. I haven’t got the responsibility of captaincy, and I’m a lot more experienced now. I’ve had a good couple of years and learned important lessons from previous tours there as both a batter and senior player," Root said while speaking to Sky Sports at a celebrity padel event in Sheffield.
“I’m sure there’ll be a lot of talk about me not scoring a hundred there yet. But I feel ready for it. The big series are the ones you want to play in and the ones where you want to contribute. You want to create memories with your teammates that you can share for the rest of your lives. If I’m doing my role in the team, then the personal milestones will come. It’s not the main focus — it’s about winning that urn back. It’s been a long time since we held it," Root mentioned.
England’s Ashes ambition and Root’s quiet resolve
The Ashes stage looks ready. Australia hold the urn and plan to defend it across Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. The tour will test every player’s endurance and temperament. Ben Stokes will lead England as they aim to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2010–11.
Root’s role in this challenge carries real weight. Despite his vast experience, he still struggles to meet his own high standards in Australia. Across 14 Tests and 27 innings, Root has scored 892 runs and averages 35.68. England's number four batter owns nine fifties and a highest score of 89. These numbers show that he performs steadily but not dominantly on Australian soil.
Yet Root’s recent form paints a different picture. His timing and range of strokes look sharper than ever. England's all-time leading run-scorer handles pace and bounce with growing confidence. The coming series feels like his best chance to change that story.
If he brings his current form into the Australian summer, he will surely end that century drought. For Root, that moment will not just close a personal chapter; it could drive the revival England has waited years to see.
