Overview
- The West Australian splashed a front page calling Root “Average Joe,” spotlighting his lack of a Test hundred in Australia despite 13,543 career runs.
- Root’s record Down Under stands at 892 runs in 14 Tests at 35.68 with nine fifties and a highest score of 89, highlighting consistent starts without a century.
- Analysts note his Australia-specific issue is pace at a full or good length, where his average drops to around 27, in contrast to 74.33 against spin on those surfaces.
- Scott Boland dismissed Root four times in the 2021–22 Ashes, though Root handled him well in England in 2023, making their likely Perth duel pivotal.
- England open in Perth on November 21, a fixture seen as tone‑setting historically, with reports indicating Australia will be without Pat Cummins and Steve Smith will captain.