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"He will get…,": Ricky Ponting backs Joe Root to end century drought in Ashes

Arunima Purohit

Joe Root [Source: @JoeRoot66Fan/X]Joe Root [Source: @JoeRoot66Fan/X]

The Ashes 2025-26 series is set to start on November 21 in Perth. While Australia are the favorite for the series, it will be interesting to see how England performs. The visitors have a top-notch squad this time, and the players are in red-hot form. 

Meanwhile, Australia's former cricketer Ricky Ponting has backed Joe Root for scoring a century in the series. The veteran English cricketer has been in incredible form, scoring a century in the last ODI against South Africa. However, his performance was brilliant in the Test series against India, and he will carry the confidence with him in the next series. 

Ricky Ponting confident on Joe Root scoring century against Australia

Joe Root has been a valuable asset to the England team, particularly in Test cricket. His contributions are immense and have helped them win numerous matches. Despite having 39 centuries in the format, the veteran batter doesn't have a single century in Australia. Hence, Ricky Ponting believes that this might be the year when Root will end his century drought in Australia during the Ashes. 

"That's what it's a mental thing for him this series more than anything else. His game is magnificent at the moment. He's got to get over that over that little mental hurdle and get 100. And I actually think he will get that 100 this time around," said Ricky Ponting as quoted by ICC. 

Australia will start as favourites: Ricky Ponting

Australia have dominated the Ashes series for a long time. England last won the series in 2015, and since then, they have struggled to regain the trophy. Ponting also mentioned that Australia will "start as favorites," but the course of the series can turn if England win in Perth. 

"Australia will start favourites, you know, and what's said in the, what's said in the press and leading up doesn't matter one bit. It's what you, it's how you turn up and how you're ready to play for that first morning in Perth and that can sometimes dictate the way the whole series goes," added Ponting. 

It will be interesting to see how England perform in Perth, as that will be the crucial Test match. With the kind of team they have, the fans might expect a different result this time.