Little known fact. Joe Root has never made a hundred in Australia.

It will be the sub-genre of the summer. A much anticipated Ashes series, in which one of the greats of the game has the chance to complete a caveat-free career. An away win, and a full set of centuries in every Test-hosting nation he has played. Except for Bangladesh and the UAE. They don't rate him in Dhaka.

Matthew Hayden confidently made the claim that if Root didn't end the Aussie summer with a Test ton, he'd strip nude to run around the MCG . But others aren't so sure.

"Wrists limper than a French handshake," former Aussie legspinner and broadcaster Kerry O'Keeffe said on Fox Sports. "It doesn't work in Australia."

"The first two Tests are huge for Joe Root. They're nickers' Tests. Perth? They nick for fun ther

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