Joe Root believes he is better equipped than ever to conquer Australia and finally end his long-standing century drought when England travels Down Under for the 2025 Ashes.

Speaking to Sky Sports at a celebrity padel event in Sheffield, the 34-year-old expressed confidence in his form and mindset ahead of what promises to be another fiercely contested series. Root, who averages 35.68 in Australia from 14 Tests, admitted that being free from the pressures of captaincy has given him renewed clarity and freedom at the crease.

“I feel I’m in a different place than when I last went out there,” Root said. “I haven’t got the responsibility of captaincy, and I’m a lot more experienced now. I’ve had a good couple of years and learned important lessons from previous tours there as both a batter and senior player.”

Root’s record in Australia has long been a topic of discussion. Despite scoring over 11,000 Test runs and 30 centuries overall, he has never reached three figures in Australian conditions. In 27 innings, his highest score remains 89, with nine half-centuries to his name. Yet, the Yorkshireman insists that personal accolades are secondary to team success.

“I’m sure there’ll be a lot of talk about me not scoring a hundred there yet,” he said. “But I feel ready for it. The big series are the ones you want to play in, and the ones where you want to contribute. You want to create memories with your teammates that you can share for the rest of your lives.”

Root emphasised that his focus is on helping England reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 2015. “If I’m doing my role in the team, then the personal milestones will come,” he added. “It’s not the main focus — it’s about winning that urn back. It’s been a long time since we held it.”

Root also spoke optimistically about England’s current depth, suggesting the squad has the talent and balance needed to challenge Australia in their own conditions. “I feel we have some serious resources to take out there and hit Australia with. Hopefully we can get that right because if I’m scoring heavily, it gives us a real chance,” he said.

As England builds towards another high-stakes Ashes campaign, Root’s combination of experience, freedom, and hunger could prove crucial in their quest to reclaim cricket’s most iconic prize.

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