Joe Root Declares Australian Ashes Comments Are Insignificant

Former Australian players have been lining up to take shots about star batsman for some time

First it was an ex-Australian cricketer suggested that the England batsman requires three figures in Australia to be regarded as an "cricket great"

Subsequently the Australian opener well-known "surfing board" jibe aimed at the veteran cricketer

More recently, another former Australian player left Root out from an all-time England XI because he's failed to score a hundred in each of his 14 Test matches in Australia

England's star maintains unflustered about the comments

"They will keep stating exactly what they choose anyway so why worry being concerned?" the 34-year-old commented

"It doesn't make significant change

"Looking back after five years nobody will recall the comments from Hayden said to me, Greg Blewett, Waugh's statements, whomever it might be"

"Everyone will recall the series outcome and think that is a historic England win or otherwise"

Hayden represents a minority of commentators to come out on Root's side

Reacting to Blewett's statement, he declared he would "walk without clothes" at the MCG during the upcoming season should Root fail to achieve his Australian ton

This places additional pressure on Root more than ever perhaps, prior to the matches commencing on the 21st of November

"Maybe it is," the batsman admitted

"Ultimately this series is not about me

"If I am scoring runs and scoring heavily it offers us a fantastic prospect to claim the series out in Australia"

Root's Australian Record

Root has mentioned earlier aiming for his first hundred in Australian conditions "excessively"

The player maintains a reasonable average of over thirty-five in numerous Tests in Australian venues - he has nine fifties - but his high score remains below one hundred at eighty-nine

New Context

For this tour he comes without carrying of being captain, which he carried on his last two visits, additionally he'll be part of a batting line-up and wider squad with prospects for success appear higher than of the past three to have made the trip

Root along with nor captain Ben Stokes have achieved victory in a Test match on Australian shores

"I'm heading there with a totally different role versus earlier tours, different circumstances, much greater familiarity at present and I feel like I have a really good understanding of my game and how I want to manage it within Australian conditions" Root explained

"Naturally you need to implement that and be good enough when it really counts, however I feel really comfortable regarding my preparation and eager for both the chance and test awaiting us"

"More than anything being an experienced player the focus is on not just performing through scoring runs but everything else accompanying it"

Optimal Opportunity

After two hours of practice sessions with youngsters at a Chance to Shine event in Leeds, the batsman revised his comment when asked whether he believes this is England's best chance to win an away Ashes during his time as part of the side

"It definitely does, if I am being brutally honest," he commented, revising his first response of "maybe"

"The element which excites me most is traveling there with a totally new strategy as a playing group"

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

"along with the possibility to maybe include several pacemen who deliver 90mph-plus consistently"

"We're not going to we're heading there with the same formula and hope for changed results

"We are going to go there and try and do it a slightly different way which generates excitement"