As the Ashes series looms, Australian bowler Scott Boland has identified England's Joe Root as the most prized wicket for the home side, despite the former captain's well-documented struggle to score a Test century on Australian soil.
The 'Average Joe' Jibe and Australian Respect
Root's arrival in Australia was greeted with a provocative front page from Perth's West Australian newspaper, which labelled him 'Average Joe'. This criticism stems from the stark statistic that, in 14 Test matches in Australia, the prolific batsman has never reached three figures.
However, within the Australian camp, there is nothing but respect for the world's top-ranked batsman. Scott Boland, the veteran seamer set to replace the injured captain Pat Cummins in the first Test, was quick to dismiss any notion that Root is undervalued by his opponents.
"I think you always want to try and take down the best players," Boland stated. "In the past when Joe Root was captain you always wanted to try and take him down... make sure they have as little impact as you can."
A Crucial Absence and a Point to Prove
Since his last, disappointing tour as captain which ended in a 4-0 defeat, Root's form has been remarkable. He has scored 16 centuries and averaged an impressive 57.14, cementing his position at the summit of the ICC batting rankings.
His former teammate, Stuart Broad, believes this series presents Root's best opportunity to silence his critics, a chance significantly boosted by the absence of Pat Cummins. The Australian captain has dismissed Root 11 times in Tests, a joint world-record alongside India's Jasprit Bumrah.
Broad, commentating for Channel 7, told The Nightly: "I think this is his best opportunity to deliver big runs. The one thing that Joe will be absolutely delighted with... is the fact that Pat Cummins is missing the first Test. He's got the sort of action I think Joe just finds quite difficult to line up."
The Challenge of Australian Grounds
Boland also suggested that England's aggressive, boundary-hitting batting approach could be tested by the vast dimensions of Australian cricket grounds. He pointed out that shots that would comfortably clear the rope in England face a much tougher challenge in venues like the Perth Stadium.
"I'm sure it will help us," Boland commented. "Balls that would go over the fence in England have got a long way to go at grounds like here, the MCG and the Gabba. It's a big difference."
With the first Test in Perth just days away, all eyes will be on Joe Root to see if he can convert his sublime global form into a match-defining performance in Australia and finally lay the 'Average Joe' tag to rest.
