‘I know I’m a good player’: Root not down in the dumps over ‘average Joe’ gibes despite struggling Down Under again
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England batting maestro Joe Root is confident he can overcome his poor record in Australia to help put his team back on track in the Ashes.
After being written off by the local media as an “average Joe” in Australia due to his failure to score a ton on his previous three tours, he started this series in terrible fashion with a duck and eight in the first Test at Perth.
The record-breaking star, who turns 35 on December 30, averages a modest 33.33 from 15 Tests in Australia, well down from his overall mark of 50.94 from 159 appearances.
He has yet to reach triple figures from 29 trips to the wicket on Ashes tours and with this likely to be his final trip to Australia, time is running out to break his century drought.
Heading into Thursday’s second Test at the Gabba with England trailing 1-0 after their two-day shellacking in Perth last week, Root said the freedom of no longer being captain gave him confidence that he could turn around his struggles on Australian soil.
“I come back here this time a completely different player,” Root told reporters.
“I’m no longer captain, a lot more experienced.
“I’ve had a good couple of years heading into this and I’ve got a clear understanding of how I want to score my runs.
“I know that if I get time out there and make good decisions for long periods of time I’m going to be successful.
“I know I’m a good player.”
Root fell to Mitchell Starc in each innings – nicking to the cordon on day one before he was bowled after inside-edging a cover drive during the second innings.
“First innings I thought it was a good ball, one of those things you can get early on, and you’ve just got to try to find a way to get through that little phase. It’s tricky at the start,” he said.
“Second innings I thought my tempo was really good. One mistake, you play and miss at that or it goes between the keeper and stumps for four, you never think of it again. So, it’s having a bit of realism.
“I was pretty disappointed in terms of numbers.
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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 30, 2025
“Yes, there are things I might’ve done differently if I get the opportunity again, but also it’s not the end of the world.”
He was adamant that England’s plan to take a few days off in the middle of their tour, rather than get in extra match practice in the Prime Minister’s XI game would pay off in the long run.
“This is the best way to prepare personally,” Root said.
“It’s very different in terms of humidity and heat, and the surface is going to be very different.
“The fact we’re all together and we can ready ourselves as a group is also very important too.
“Time in the middle is one thing, but as an experienced player, I feel like I know what I need to get the best out of myself.”
England’s hopes of squaring the series have taken a hit with speedster Mark Wood ruled out due to a knee injury with Josh Tongue the frontrunner to take his spot.
Jacob Bethell’s hopes of forcing his way into the line-up have nosedived after he made just 16 for the PM’s XI on day two in Canberra.
Openers Emilio Gay (56) and Tom Haines (77) set the platform before James Rew (92 not out) and Asa Tribe (53 not out) steered the Lions to the 309-run victory target for the loss of just two wickets.
Gay retired hurt soon after reaching his half-century due to a hamstring complaint.
Bethell’s breezy innings came to an end after he spooned a ctach off left-armer Campbell Thompson.
He is a chance to play later in the Ashes with doubts over Ollie Pope’s position at No.3 in the line-up.
