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In the classic tradition of pre-Ashes 2025-26 mind games, England‘s superstar batter Joe Root has delivered a calm and measured response to a pointed verbal jab from former Australian opener David Warner. The exchange has set the stage for the highly anticipated 2025-26 series in Australia, with both players contributing to the hype surrounding one of the fiercest rivalries in sports. Root, who is determined to break his long-standing century drought in Australia, has addressed his past struggles with an unprecedented level of candor and confidence.
The ‘surfboard’ sledge and Joe Root’s measured response to David Warner
The latest chapter of the verbal sparring began when Warner, in an interview, called out Root for his below-par performances in Australia. Warner, known for his aggressive style both on and off the field, suggested that Root would need to ‘take the surfboard off his front leg’ as he predicted Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood would once again target his front pad. Root, however, was completely unfazed by the comment.
In a recent interview, he dismissed the remarks, stating, “I can’t have any control on how people see the game or talk in interview. Nothing new, is it? You know there are going to be storylines and people wanting to hype up a big series.” Root went on to say that the banter was “all part of the fun, right?” and that it wouldn’t change his approach. He also cheekily added that his only real concern was to make sure his “surfboard is out the way” so it isn’t a talking point when the series begins in November.
“What more can I do about it? Just keep my surfboard out the way and make sure it is not a talking point in 100 days’ time,” the 34-year-old said. I can’t have any control or say on how people see the game or talk in an interview. It is irrelevant,” the former England Test captain added.
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Acknowledging past struggles and the ‘distractions’ of former tours
Root has been a prolific run-scorer throughout his career, but his record in Australia remains the only significant blot. In 14 Tests (27 innings) on Australian soil, he has scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68 with nine fifties, but frustratingly, he has yet to score a century. Root offered a candid explanation for this anomaly, admitting that a key factor was his mindset. He told the BBC, “The thing that stands out for me is I wanted it way too much the last couple of times. It took me away from what was important,”
Furthermore, he revealed that his past tours were filled with a ‘lot of distractions.’ Root pointed to the immense pressure of being captain during the 2017-18 and 2021-22 tours, the challenges of a Covid-enforced bio-bubble, and other team incidents such as the Ben Stokes incident in 2017 and the Jonny Bairstow ‘headbutt’ incident. These factors, he believes, took his focus away from simply enjoying the game and performing to his potential.
“There were a lot of distractions. I was captain, Covid [during the 2021- 22 series], there was the (Ben) Stokes incident the time before that, the Jonny [Bairstow] headbutt incident as well. This time I want to just go and enjoy the tour for what it is. I know if I put my best performances in then everything else will look after itself,” the superstar England batter stated.
Armed with a new perspective and an abundance of experience, Root is heading into the Ashes 2025-26 series with a renewed sense of confidence. Now with over 150 Test caps, this time, his focus is not on the pressure of scoring a hundred but on simply enjoying the challenge. He is embracing the hostile atmosphere he expects from the Australian crowds and sees it as something to ‘relish.’
“Having played in Australia a couple of times before, now going with 150-odd Test caps under my belt, I feel I couldn’t be more ready for it. The thing that stands out for me is I probably wanted it [a century] way too much the last couple of times. It took me away from what was important,” Root concluded.
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