Joe Root, the former England captain, is in the form of his life at the Test level, going past few of the all-time greats on the highest run-scoring charts, to find himself in second place behind Sachin
Tendulkar. After a successful Test series with the bat against India at home, the 34-year-old has the Ashes series against Australia ahead of him down under, and in the build-up, David Warner took a jibe at him by saying that he will have to “take the surfboard off his front leg”.
It’s a reference from Warner about Root’s perceived weakness against the ball coming in, getting out lbw regularly, especially against the Australian pacers down under. It is also important to note that Joe Root is yet to score a Test hundred against Australia down under, and at the same time, he hasn’t been a part of a Test win over there as well with the England cricket team.
I guess it is all part of the fun, right?: Joe Root on David Warner's pre-Ashes jibe
In a report published on BBC Sport, Joe Root spoke about the pre-Ashes jibe of David Warner, talking about how he can’t help what others are going to say about him . He was quoted as saying, “I can't have any control or say on how people see the game or talk in an interview. It is irrelevant. What more can I do about it? Just keep my surfboard out the way and make sure it is not a talking point in 100 days' time.”
When Root was asked if he is going to respond to Warner’s jibe on the field during their upcoming clash in The Hundred 2025, he responded, “I don't think so…. I guess it is all part of the fun, right? We will see what happens but it is not really in my nature to get too verbal.” Notably, Root’s Trent Rockets are set to play against Warner’s London Spirit at Lord’s in the ongoing season of The Hundred on Thursday, August 14.
The first Test of the five-match Ashes series between Australia and England is going to begin on November 21, at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
