Australia’s David Warner recently reignited the pre-Ashes banter with a cheeky comment aimed at England’s Joe Root. Referring to Root’s repeated dismissals by Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood — 10 times in 31 innings — Warner joked that Root should “take the surfboard off his front leg,” implying his stance and technique were making him vulnerable.
The remark added spice to the build-up for the highly anticipated Ashes series, a contest already steeped in rivalry and drama.
Root’s Measured Response
Joe Root, known for his calm demeanour, brushed off the taunt with a composed and blunt reply.
“I have no control over how people perceive the game or discuss it in an interview… It is sort of irrelevant to me,” Root said, making it clear he wouldn’t let such comments affect his preparation. Instead, he focused on ensuring the topic wouldn’t remain relevant in the coming months.
“What can I do about it? Just make sure it is not a talking point in six months or 100 days’ time.”
Root also acknowledged that this kind of chatter is nothing unusual in the lead-up to a major series.
“Nothing new, is it? You know there are going to be storylines and people wanting to hype up a big series. Does not really change anything. It is sort of irrelevant to me… When you get out there, you have to try and impact the game… Business as usual as far as I am concerned. I guess it is all part of the fun.”
His words reflected a mindset focused on performance rather than pre-match distractions.
Looking Ahead, The Hundred and the Ashes
Before the Ashes, Root and Warner will face each other in The Hundred tournament. Root will represent Trent Rockets, while Warner will play for London Spirit — a perfect stage for early sparks before the main battle in Australia.
The Ashes series itself begins on November 21 in Perth, doubling as part of the ICC World Test Championship. For England, it’s not just another series — it’s an opportunity to break a long drought, as they haven’t won the Ashes in Australia since 2011 and haven’t lifted the urn at all since 2015. Both teams will enter the contest with high stakes, intense scrutiny, and a history of fiery exchanges, both on and off the pitch.
While Warner’s surfboard quip might have made headlines, Root’s composed reaction suggests he’s more interested in letting his bat do the talking when the real challenge begins.
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