England's Joe Root ready to enjoy Ashes tour even though 'it's going to be hostile'

Root, barring any injury, will be going Down Under for his first Ashes in Australia unburdened by the captaincy since 2013.

The 34-year-old's last two trips to Australia was as skipper of his country and came with plenty of off-field drama, including the 2021-22 series which was played under strict Covid restrictions.

In the 2017-18 series, Jonny Bairstow was embroiled in a bizarre "headbutt incident" (inverted commas gestured by Root) with Australia's Cameron Bancroft which turned out to be a proverbial storm off the field.

Root will now be going to Australia having starred in the home series against India and with Ben Stokes as his skipper.

"There was a lot of distractions," Root told reporters. "This time I just want to go and enjoy the tour for what it is. It's a beautiful country, it's a great place to go play cricket.

"Clearly it's going to be hostile, it's going to be everything you'd expect and want from an away Ashes series. That's something you've got to relish and want and I want to go out there and just enjoy being a part of it."

Root has another goal for the upcoming Ashes, having never hit a Test century on Australian soil and is determined to put things right.

He added: "The thing that stands out for me is I probably wanted it way too much the last couple of times. It took me away from what was important.

"Having played there a couple of times before, now going there with 150-odd Test matches under my belt, I feel like you couldn't be more ready for it so just go and enjoy what a great tour it should be."