Root States Aussie Test Series Comments Won't Be Remembered

Commentators down under have been waiting to take shots at England's veteran cricketer for months

The comments began when Darren Lehmann stated that Joe Root requires a hundred in down under to earn the status of an "legendary player"

Following that David Warner now-famous "wave-riding board" comment aimed at Root

More recently, Greg Blewett excluded Root from a historical England XI because he has not reached a century in each of his 14 Tests in down under

Root remains unconcerned by the criticism

"They are going to say exactly what they choose anyway so why worry being concerned?" the 34-year-old stated

"It doesn't make much difference

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

"Everyone will recall on the scoreline and view it as a win for England or not"

Hayden has been a minority of former players to stand up on Root's side

Addressing Blewett's statement, he said he'd "walk without clothes" around the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the upcoming season should Root fail to score his Australian hundred

This places expectations for Root more than ever perhaps, prior to the matches starting on the 21st of November

"Maybe it is," the batsman admitted

"At the end of the day this series doesn't revolve around me

"If I am scoring runs and making substantial contributions it provides us a great opportunity to claim the series out in Australia"

Australian Statistics

Root has mentioned in the past aiming for his first hundred in down under "excessively"

He has a respectable average of 35.68 in numerous Tests in Australia - he has nine fifties - but his high score remains below one hundred at 89

Different Circumstances

For this tour he arrives free from the weight of captaincy, something he had on his last two visits, while he will also be component of the batting lineup and larger team with prospects for success seem better compared to previous visiting sides

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

"I'm heading there in a completely different capacity versus earlier tours, different circumstances, much greater familiarity currently and I consider that I understand completely regarding my technique and how I plan to handle it within Australian conditions" Root explained

"Naturally you need to put that into practice and excel when it really counts, however I feel quite confident with where everything is at and looking forward to the opportunity and challenge awaiting us"

"Above all being an experienced player the focus is on beyond simply achieving through scoring runs but all additional aspects related to it"

Optimal Opportunity

After two hours of cricket drills with young players at a Chance to Shine event in Leeds, Root amended his statement when asked if he concurs this is England's best chance to win an away Ashes during his time with the squad

"It definitely does, to be completely honest," he stated, upgrading an initial assessment of "perhaps"

"The thing that excites me most is heading there employing a fresh tactic collectively"

"We're going to be able to present them with a significantly different approach regarding our pace attack

"plus the chance to possibly field three or four bowlers who deliver over ninety miles per hour consistently"

"It isn't as if we are going to go there with the same formula and anticipate altered outcomes

"We are going to go there and attempt to accomplish it through altered methods which is really exciting"