Root shrugs off Warner jibe as Ashes loom, eyes Australia century

Joe Root has dismissed David Warner’s surfboard jibe as little more than part of the Ashes theatre, while stressing that his focus remains on enjoying the tour and helping England reclaim the urn. The England captain’s record underlines the task ahead: he is the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, with 13,543 career runs, but he has yet to convert that form into a century on Australian soil in 14 Tests. The Ashes series is due to begin in November, and Root will be seeking to change his fortunes Down Under while navigating a notoriously challenging environment.

Warner’s remark, suggesting Root might need to “take the surfboard off his front leg” because Josh Hazlewood could target that weakness, prompted a brief, pointed reply from Root. Asked whether he had laughed off the jibe, the England veteran said the comments were predictable in the build-up to a high-stakes series. “Nothing new,” he said. “There are storylines and people wanting to hype up a big series. It doesn’t really change anything. What can I do about it? Just make sure it’s not a talking point in six months or 100 days’ time.” He added that on the field, “you’ve got to try and impact the game and...