
Root, who recently climbed to second place on the all-time Test run-scorers list during England’s 2-2 series draw against India, has amassed 13,543 runs, behind only India’s Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Despite his stellar record, the 34-year-old is still chasing his first Test win and maiden century in Australia, where he averages 35.68 from 27 innings with nine fifties.
“Having toured Australia a couple of times before, and now with over 150 Test caps to my name, I feel I couldn’t be more ready for the challenge,” Root told British media on Thursday.
“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.”
Australia won both the 2017-18 series and following home series in 2021-22 4-0 before drawing 2-2 in England in 2023 to retain the urn.
England last triumphed in Australia in 2010-11, which is also the last time the tourists won a test Down Under.
“There were a lot of distractions,” Root said of the last two Ashes series in Australia.
“I was captain, COVID (in 2021-22), there was the (Ben) Stokes incident the time before that (when Stokes was ruled out of the 2017-18 tour after an incident at a Bristol nightclub), the Jonny (Bairstow) headbutt incident as well.
“This time I want to just go and enjoy the tour for what it is. It is a beautiful country it is a great place to go and play cricket.
I know if I put my best performances in then everything else will look after itself.”
This year’s Ashes begins in Perth on November 21 before a day-night match in Brisbane, the third test in Adelaide and the traditional Melbourne and Sydney tests in December and January.
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