Former Australian opener David Warner has started the conversation about the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 by criticising England’s ace batter Joe Root’s batting approach. Warner joked that Root would need to remove the surfboard from his front leg if England were to win the Ashes urn on Australian soil for the first time since 2010-11.
Joe Root, one of England’s most prolific Test batsman, has struggled to turn starts into centuries in Australia.
In 14 Tests in the country, he has a top score of 89 and an average of 35.68, with no centuries to his record. Warner also stated that Root might be vulnerable to leg-before dismissals, particularly against Josh Hazlewood, in the forthcoming series, which begins in Perth on November 21.
Root recently surpassed former Australian captain Ricky Ponting to become Test cricket’s second-highest run-scorer, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar of India.
“The big anchor there is Root, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia. Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg,” said Warner to BBC Sport.
“I’ve never heard England’s best ever batters front pad called a Surfboard. Just for clarity. Hazelwood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three,” wrote Broad on X.
I’ve never heard England’s best ever batters front pad called a Surfboard 😂😂
Just for clarity. Hazelwood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three. https://t.co/HZc7hojQHi
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 2, 2025
Australia’s final Test series before the Ashes ended in a 3-0 clean sweep against the West Indies, highlighted by a dramatic collapse in the final match where the hosts were bowled out for just 27 runs, the second-lowest total in Test history. However, despite the dominant scoreline, Australia showed signs of vulnerability at various stages during the series, something that will surely give England reason for optimism heading into the Ashes.
“It all comes down to the bowlers. If the English bowlers can put a dent in the Australia top order then they will come into the contest,” Warner added.
Warner is set to play for London Spirit in The Hundred 2025, which is beginning in a couple of days time. The team will face defending men’s champions Oval Invincibles in the opening match at Lord’s in London on Tuesday, August 5.
