Joe Root, one of the greatest batters in England’s history, ranks just behind Sachin Tendulkar in the list of highest Test run-scorers. With over 21,000 international runs, 57 centuries, 113 fifties, and a 2019 ODI World Cup win under his belt, Root’s career still carries a few unfulfilled desires. Among them, two names stand out the most — Australia and Bangladesh.
Although Root has scored centuries in almost all Test-playing nations, he has yet to reach triple figures in these two countries. The Ashes will begin this November in Australia, but Root still doesn’t have a Test century on Australian soil. Across 70 matches spanning all three formats against Australia, he has four centuries — all on English soil. Will the long wait for a ton in Australia finally end this time?
The absence of a century against Bangladesh also remains a clear regret. Root has played only two Tests against Bangladesh — both in Dhaka in 2016. His highest score across four innings is 56. He has never scored a century in Bangladesh. He has also never played a T20I against them. In ODIs, he’s played four matches against Bangladesh, with his best being an unbeaten 133 in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
While he still has a chance to fill the void in the Ashes, whether he will ever return to play on Bangladeshi soil remains uncertain.
