Ashes 2025: Ricky Ponting Backs Joe Root To Score His Maiden Test Hundred On Australian Soil

Ashes 2025: In a moment of rarity, a former Australian player has broken the tradition of dishing out 'bitter' comments towards their English counterparts ahead of the much-awaited Ashes series. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes there is a good chance that English talismanic batter Joe Root will overcome his century drought in Australia during the upcoming Ashes series.

One of the most-watched and followed series in the Test format will make a comeback after a gap of two years as Australia will host England in a five-match series down under. The first Test will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Australia have been a dominant side in the Ashes in the last decade as they have not lost an Ashes series since 2011. Adding to their dominance at their own den, the Aussies are yet to lose a test. However, England will look to change things with a squad full of firepower and players with plenty of experience.

"That's what it is, a mental thing for him this series more than anything else. His game is magnificent at the moment. He's got to get over that little mental hurdle and get 100. And I actually think he will get that 100 this time around," Ponting said as quoted from ICC.

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"I think he's better equipped now as a player than ever. Other times he's come here to Australia, he's had one or two little technical issues that on the extra bouncy wickets, the Australian fast bowlers have been able to exploit," Ponting said.

"And I have watched the way that he's played over the last 12 or 18 months, it looks like he's worked really hard on taking those motive dismissals out of play. But you also know that little man that sits on your shoulder, he keeps telling you, you haven't done well here in the past, and you haven't got 100 here," he added.

Joe Root's Stats In Australia

Root, who, despite his red-hot run in Tests during this decade and being the second-highest run-getter in the format with 13,543 runs and 39 centuries, has never managed a century in Australia. Achieving a Test ton in Australia and an Ashes series win to top it all off could elevate Root's legacy aplenty.

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In Australia, Root is not only winless in his 14 previous Tests against the Aussies, but he has also not scored as he would have liked, having made nine half-centuries at an average of 35.68, scoring 892 runs in 14 matches and 27 innings.

Inputs from Agency