Joe Root Hints At Another Ashes Tour In Australia After Tying Ricky Ponting: 'We'll See How Things...'

Joe Root expressed his desire to return for another Ashes tour of Australia following his impressive 160 in the fifth Test on Monday, demonstrating his enduring prowess.

The 35-year-old achieved his second

century of the series in Sydney, marking his 41st Test hundred, tying him with Australian legend Ricky Ponting for third place on the all-time list.

Root, the second-highest Test run-scorer after India’s Sachin Tendulkar, hit 15 fours during his 242-ball innings, helping England reach 384 in their first innings.

Root will be 39 when England next tours Australia, leading many to speculate that this might be his final farewell, especially after his salute to the crowd upon leaving the field.

However, Root hinted otherwise.

Root To Come Back For More?

“I think you might be looking into it a little bit too much,” he said when asked if it was a final goodbye to Australia.

“I just felt like we’ve had some amazing support throughout this series, and we’ve not been able to achieve what we set out to as a group.

“But at no point has that (support) ever wavered, and that’s never wavered whenever I’ve come out here on tour, it’s been exceptional. And it’s a way of saying thank you, really.”

When asked if he would return in four years, Root responded: “Who knows? We’ll see. I’d love to, but we’ll see how things unfold in time.”

His 160 was his second century of the series, following his unbeaten 138 in the day-night Test at Brisbane, which ended his three-figure drought in Australia over three previous Ashes tours.

What’s Next?

Only Tendulkar, with 51 centuries, and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, with 45, have scored more centuries than Root.

Root’s pursuit of Tendulkar’s record 15,921 Test runs is also within reach, as he currently has 13,937.

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann praised Root as “the best player outside of Bradman” after his performance on Monday.

“I’ve said it before, once he ticked off the hundred in Australia, he’ll be the greatest player outside of Bradman, statistically,” Lehmann said on ABC radio.

“He’ll break all the records. He’ll beat Tendulkar, he’ll make more hundreds than anyone else. And it’ll take a lot of catching because he’s quite fit.”

(With inputs from Agencies)