Root Declares Australian Ashes Jibes Are Insignificant

Former Australian players have been lining up to offer opinions at England's key player for months

First it was a former coach stated that the England batsman must make a century in Australia to be regarded as an "all-time great"

Then came Warner's much-discussed "surfing board" comment aimed at Root

In recent weeks, Blewett omitted Root from a legendary England XI because he has not reached three figures in all of his 14 international Tests in Australian conditions

Root remains unbothered regarding the remarks

"They'll continue saying what they want in any case so why worry being concerned?" the 34-year-old said

"It doesn't produce much difference

"Looking back five years from now no-one is going to remember the comments from Hayden said to me, Greg's comments, Mark Waugh, anyone else"

"They are going to look back on the scoreline and think that is a historic England win or the opposite"

Matthew Hayden has been one of the few former players to stand up in Root's defense

In response to Blewett's statement, he said he would "go naked" at the MCG in the coming months should Root fail to score his Australian hundred

That puts the pressure on Root unprecedentedly maybe, ahead of the contest which begins on 21 November

"Perhaps that's true," Root said

"At the end of the day this tour is not about me

"If I am scoring runs and scoring heavily it offers us an excellent chance to win a series out in Australia"

Performance in Australia

Root has mentioned in the past desiring his initial century in Australia "excessively"

Root possesses a reasonable average of over thirty-five in numerous Tests in Australian venues - including nine half-centuries - yet his best performance is stuck below one hundred at 89

New Context

This time he arrives without the burden of captaincy, which he carried on prior Australian trips, while he will also be part of a batting line-up and wider squad with prospects for success look improved versus earlier three to have made the trip

Root along with and captain Stokes have been successful in a Test on Australian soil

"I'm heading there in a completely different capacity to last time, altered situations, significantly more experience now and I consider that I understand completely regarding my technique and my approach to managing it within Australian conditions" the batsman stated

"Clearly you have got to apply that and be good enough when it really counts, however I feel very assured regarding my preparation and anticipating both the chance and test that lies ahead"

"Primarily as a senior player the focus is on beyond simply achieving through scoring runs but every other element related to it"

Optimal Opportunity

Following 120 minutes of cricket drills alongside youth at a promotional activity in Leeds, Root has to correct himself when asked if he agrees this is their prime chance to secure an overseas Ashes victory throughout his career with the squad

"Absolutely it does, if I am being brutally honest," he commented, revising his first response of "probably"

"The thing that I'm most excited about is heading there with a totally new strategy as a team"

"We're going to be able to present them with a significantly different approach in terms of our bowling lineup

"plus the chance to possibly field several pacemen capable of bowling over ninety miles per hour throughout extended spells"

"It isn't as if we'll travel there with the same formula and hope for changed results

"We are going to go there and strive to achieve it through altered methods which generates excitement"