If England are preparing for their long-awaited Ash 2025-26 tour down under, all attention goes to Joe RootThe world’s top-ranked Test batsman and one of the modern greats. Root, who is in second place Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time charts, this series enters with a point to prove. Despite his brilliance elsewhere, Australia remains an unconquered frontier, 14 Tests, no centuries and no wins. The challenge is clear: transform consistency into dominance on hostile Australian territory.
Steve Harmison makes bold predictions on Joe Root’s series average and Ashes scoreline 2025-26
Former England fast bowler and 2005 Ashes hero Steve Harmonison has made a striking prediction: Joe Root will not only perform, but dominate in Australia. Speaking to Fox Cricket, Harmison claimed“People have been telling me for two years that Joe Root is going to average 50. That’s not the case. I think he’s going to average 150.” The veteran pacer believes Root’s current rhythm, mentality and hunger for redemption could see him even surpass Alastair Cook’s legendary tally of 766 runs from the 2010-2011 Ashes.
Harmison also believes the stars are aligned for England. With the Australian skipper Pat Cummins With a back injury and England’s fearless new generation embracing the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style, the ex-pacer sees this as England’s moment. Harmison added that Root may look shaky for the first 15-20 balls, but his adaptability and patience make him virtually unstoppable after that. He confidently predicted a 3-1 victory for England and concluded that the tourists no longer fear Australia, a mental edge that could finally break a decade-long drought in the southern hemisphere.
“I’m backing England, maybe 3-1 to come to Australia and sledge Australia and Joe Root to have the best series he’s had for a long time. I’m so confident England will win. Where Joe is mentally, and with Cummins out, I think he’ll flourish. He’s vulnerable for the first 15-20 balls, but after that he just keeps accumulating. England aren’t afraid of Australia anymore. I don’t think there is fear in the world with the way these young players are approaching the game,” Harmonison concluded.
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Root’s Australian Challenge: A Battle for Greatness
For Joe Root, this Ashes is more than another series; it is a personal history waiting to be rewritten. His Test resume includes more than 11,000 runs, but the glaring absence of an Australian century has long been the only blemish on an otherwise illustrious record. Root’s quest for redemption is not just about form; it’s about legacy. He is within touching distance of Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 runs, and a productive run could reduce that gap significantly.
Australia, on the other hand, remains formidable in terms of domestic conditions and has dominated all visiting teams since 2011. Yet Root’s newfound confidence and England’s attacking approach offer a new story. If he can adapt to the revival early and settle into his rhythm, a defining century, or perhaps a few more, may not be far away. The 2025-2026 Ashes may well be remembered as the series that restored Root’s supremacy and ended England’s long, painful wait for an away win.
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