Joe Root Declares Aussie Test Series Jibes Are Insignificant

Former Australian players have been waiting to offer opinions at England's veteran cricketer throughout the year

The comments began when an ex-Australian cricketer stated that Joe Root requires a hundred in down under to be considered an "cricket great"

Following that the Australian opener much-discussed "surfing board" comment targeting Root

More recently, Blewett excluded Root from a legendary English team on the grounds he's failed to score a century in each of his 14 Test matches in down under

England's star maintains unconcerned by the criticism

"They are going to say exactly what they choose regardless so why concern myself thinking about it?" Root commented

"It won't create a huge amount of difference

"In retrospect after five years people won't remember Hayden's remarks stated about me, Greg Blewett, Waugh's statements, anyone else"

"They are going to look back at the final result and view it as a historic England win or otherwise"

Hayden represents among the rare former players to speak out in Root's defense

Addressing Blewett's claim, he stated he would "walk nude" at the MCG during the upcoming season unless Root manages to scratch his Australian century itch

This places additional pressure on Root like never before perhaps, before the series which begins on 21 November

"Possibly so," the batsman admitted

"When all is said and done this tour isn't centered on me

"If I am scoring runs and scoring heavily it gives us an excellent chance to claim the series in Australian conditions"

Australian Statistics

The batsman has discussed earlier aiming for his first hundred in down under "excessively"

The player maintains a reasonable average of over thirty-five in 14 Tests in down under - including nine half-centuries - but his high score stands in double digits at eighty-nine

Changed Situation

For this tour he comes without carrying of leadership, responsibilities he held on the two previous tours, and he'll also serve as part of a batting line-up and complete squad having opportunities to perform well appear higher versus earlier three to have made the trip

Neither Root nor captain Ben Stokes have been successful in a Test match on in Australia

"I'm heading there in a completely different capacity to last time, altered situations, significantly more experience currently and I consider that I have a really good understanding regarding my technique and how I plan to handle it within Australian conditions" the batsman stated

"Obviously you must apply that and be good enough during crucial moments, yet I'm quite confident with where everything is at and eager for the opportunity and challenge that lies ahead"

"Above all as a senior player it is about not just performing through scoring runs but everything else related to it"

England's Best Chance

After two hours of training exercises with youngsters at a Chance to Shine event in Yorkshire, Root has to correct himself when asked if he agrees this is England's best chance to win an away Ashes during his time as part of the side

"Without question it does, if I am being brutally honest," he said, correcting his earlier statement of "maybe"

"The aspect that excites me most is going there with a totally new strategy as a team"

"We're going to be able to confront them with something quite different regarding our bowling attack

"and the opportunity to maybe include multiple fast bowlers who deliver over ninety miles per hour throughout extended spells"

"We're not going to we're heading there employing similar tactics and expect different results

"We'll travel there and try and do it through altered methods which is really exciting"