Ahead of the Ashes Test series against Australia, England`s stalwart Joe Root said that winning the contest for the team is more important than scoring his first century in the Australian conditions.
While speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Root said that it would be a disservice to his team, if he runs behind his personal milestone.
“This series is not about me, it is about us winning the Ashes. If at any stage it starts to become that in my own mind, then I`m doing a disservice to this team by not being the senior player I need to be within it. The whole focus has to be on us winning. If I am scoring big runs, that is going to help,” he said.
He also said that it would be the best achievement for him if the “Three Lions” managed to win the series, without him scoring a century.
“If we come away from this and I have not got a hundred, and we win the series, that would be probably the best achievement of my whole career. That is where it sits with me,” added Root.
So far in Australia, the right-hander has registered nine half-centuries with an average of 35.68. Having played 14 Test matches, he has scored 892 runs, with the best score of 89 runs.
On the other hand, the Australian skipper and star pacer Pat Cummins will miss out on the series opener, as he is still in the recovery process of the injury. In his absence, Steve Smith will lead the Australian pack in the first Test match against the “Three Lions”.
The first Ashes Test is scheduled to be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21.
The Ashes: Full Squads
Australia`s squad (first Test only): Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
England`s squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
(With ANI Inputs)
