Root Declares Aussie Ashes Digs Will Be Forgotten

Commentators down under have been queuing to make comments about star batsman for months

The comments began when a former coach suggested that the England batsman must make three figures in Australian conditions to earn the status of an "legendary player"

Then came the Australian opener now-famous "wave-riding board" comment directed toward the England batsman

Last month, Greg Blewett omitted Root from an all-time England XI because he hasn't achieved three figures in any of his 14 international Tests in Australia

The batsman stays unflustered by the criticism

"They will keep stating exactly what they choose in any case so why worry worrying about it?" Root stated

"It won't create much difference

"Looking back five years from now nobody will recall the comments from Hayden commented regarding me, Greg Blewett, Mark Waugh, anyone else"

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

Matthew Hayden has been among the rare commentators to come out supporting Root

Reacting to the exclusion, he stated he promised to "go naked" at the MCG in the coming months should Root fail to achieve his Australian ton

That puts the pressure on Root unprecedentedly perhaps, before the series which begins on the 21st of November

"Perhaps that's true," the batsman admitted

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

"When I'm batting well and accumulating big scores it gives us an excellent chance to win a series down under"

Performance in Australia

The batsman has discussed in the past desiring his initial century in Australian conditions "excessively"

The player maintains a reasonable average of 35.68 in fourteen Test matches in Australian venues - he has nine fifties - yet his best performance stands below one hundred at eighty-nine

Different Circumstances

On this occasion he comes without the burden of being captain, which he carried on the two previous tours, and he'll also serve as part of a batting line-up and complete squad having opportunities for success look improved versus earlier visiting sides

Neither Root and captain Stokes have been successful in a Test match on Australian shores

"I'm traveling there in a completely different capacity compared to previous visits, altered situations, much greater familiarity at present and I feel like I grasp thoroughly of my game and how I want to manage it in the conditions" Root said

"Naturally you need to apply that and perform adequately when it really counts, yet I'm quite confident about my current situation and eager for the opportunity and challenge awaiting us"

"Above all as a senior player it is about more than just performing in terms of the runs but every other element accompanying it"

England's Best Chance

Following 120 minutes of cricket drills with youngsters at a promotional activity in Leeds, the batsman revised his comment upon being questioned if he agrees this is their prime chance to claim an Ashes series abroad in his playing years with the squad

"Absolutely it does, to be completely honest," he stated, upgrading an initial assessment of "maybe"

"The element which excites me most is going there with a completely different approach as a team"

"We'll have the capability to present them with a substantially altered strategy in terms of our bowling lineup

"plus the chance to possibly field multiple fast bowlers capable of bowling 90mph-plus consistently"

"It's not like we are going to go there with the same formula and expect different results

"We'll travel there and try and do it using modified approaches that's truly exciting"