England's batting maestro Joe Root has set his sights on a remarkable fifth Ashes tour of Australia in 2029, by which time he will be 39 years old. The declaration follows his magnificent knock of 160 in the fifth Test in Sydney, his second century of the series.
Root's Australian Ambition and Contract Future
Speaking after his stellar performance at the SCG, Root admitted he would "love" to be part of the next Ashes campaign down under in four years' time. The 35-year-old currently holds a central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) until the summer of 2027, which covers the home Ashes series that year. However, his ambition stretches further, targeting a return to Australian shores in 2029.
"Who knows? We'll see. I'd love to," Root said when asked about the prospect. "We'll see how things unfold in time. One thing I always try and look at is opportunity. I don't know how many opportunities I'm going to get to come back to Australia."
Chasing History and Building a Legacy
Root's Sydney century was particularly significant as it was his second of this series, having finally registered his first-ever Ashes hundred in Australia during the second Test in Brisbane. This came after three previous tours without a three-figure score.
Should he maintain his Test career for another four years, Root is poised to break Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 15,921 Test runs. Currently second on the list, the England star has 13,937 runs, leaving him just under 2,000 runs behind the legendary Indian batsman.
Laying Foundations for Future Success
Root's 160 on day two in Sydney helped England post a first-innings total of 384, as the tourists aimed to secure a consolation victory and reduce the series deficit to 3-2. Reflecting on the team's win in the fourth Test at the MCG, Root highlighted the importance of creating positive memories for a new generation of England players in Australia.
"It was great to win at the MCG," Root stated. "Hopefully that benefits the Test team moving forward when it comes back to playing here, having good memories. For a lot of this squad it is the first time they've been out here, so if they've got good memories and we can find a way to win this fixture, next time we come out, the last two memories we'd have out here would be two Ashes wins."
He added: "The baggage that might have been there for a previous generation might not be there for them. There's so much to play for throughout the next three days."
