The Ashes: Root would 'love to' play on England's next tour of Australia

Joe Root would "love" to be a part of England's next Ashes tour of Australia in four years' time after racking up his second Test century in the country.

Having resumed unbeaten on 72 at the start of day

two of the fifth Test, Root reached 160 for his second ton of the series during a dominant start to the day for England.

Root's century was his 41st in Test cricket, taking him joint-third in the all-time charts for the format, level with Australia's Ricky Ponting. Only Sachin Tendulkar (51 for India) and Jacques Kallis (45 for ICC and South Africa) have made more.

It is Root's fourth tour of Australia, though he has never won an away series in the country, while England's victory in the fourth Test was his first in 18 attempts.

If England's all-time run-scorer does participate in the next Ashes series in 2029-30, during which he will turn 39, he is likely to break the record for the most Test caps and runs.

Asked if he wants to be in Australia again in four years' time, he said: "Who knows? We'll see. I'd love to. 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. "

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A 41st Test century from the GOAT on day 2  pic.twitter.com/fQ9wMRQCZD

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 5, 2026

England held a 218-run lead over Australia by stumps, after reaching 384 in their first innings.

Though Brendon McCullum's side trail 3-1 in the series, it is the first time in Root's England career that he has avoided being on the wrong side of a whitewash in Australia.

"It was great to win at the MCG," said Root. "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.

"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. "