Warner Critiques Root, Broad Responds Before Ashes

Former Australian opener David Warner has intensified pre-Ashes discussions by highlighting England captain Joe Root's lack of a Test century in Australia, while also noting Root’s recent achievement of surpassing Ricky Ponting as the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. Warner pointed out that Root averages just 35.68 in 14 Tests in Australia and has been dismissed 10 times by Josh Hazlewood, though England’s Stuart Broad clarified that only three of those dismissals were lbw. Warner suggested Root must adjust his technique to succeed on Australian pitches and emphasized the importance of England’s returning bowlers Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson in their bid to reclaim the Ashes urn for the first time in a decade. He added that England’s bowlers must apply early pressure on Australia's top order to remain competitive. Warner, set to play for London Spirit in The Hundred, also spoke about the need to energize his new team and entertain fans. The high-stakes Ashes series is scheduled to begin on November 21, 2025.