With just ten days left for the start of the Ashes 2025/26, the mind games have already started. The build-up to this legendary rivalry has always been intense, and this time, it is former Australian cricketers leading the verbal battle.
England’s batting mainstay Joe Root has once again found himself at the centre of attention, as a former Aussie bowler predicted that the English star would fail completely in the upcoming series.
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As England prepare to face Australia in the opening Test at Perth, the talk around Root’s struggles on Australian pitches has resurfaced.
Why did the Australian ex-bowler call Joe Root a total failure?
The former Australian pacer, Rodney Hogg, didn’t hold back while analysing Root’s record Down Under. He said that Root’s batting technique simply doesn’t suit Australian conditions.
Backing his argument with numbers, the ex-player pointed out that while Root averages above 50 in Tests overall, his average in Australia is only around 35.
"Joe Root will be a total failure in this series. His technique does not work in Australia. He's got 39 test matches, he averages 51. In Australia he averages 35.He plays the ball under his nose. He loves to glide it down between third slip and gully. You can't do that in Australia. You nick those. So his technique does not work in Australia. Joe Root will be their weakness," said Rodney.
What does this series mean for Joe Root and England?
Root’s record in Australia has been far from ideal. In 27 innings across previous Ashes tours, he has scored 892 runs at an average of just 35.68, with his highest score being 89. Despite being England’s best batter statistically, he has never scored a century on Australian soil.
The upcoming Ashes will be a defining one for both Root and England. The team hasn’t won an away Ashes series since 2011. Root, who has been the backbone of England’s Test batting with 13,500-plus runs and 39 centuries, will want to change the narrative about his performances in Australia.
In the previous Ashes held in Australia in 2021–22, England suffered a crushing 4–0 defeat. Still, Root ended up as their top run-scorer with 322 runs in five Tests.
This time around, with England pushing their aggressive Bazball style, Root’s form could be the key to whether the visitors finally break their 14-year drought on Australian soil.
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