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“Total failure”: Ex-Aussie quick labels Root England’s weak spot
SEN • November 14th, 2025 10:19 am
Former Australian quick bowler Rodney Hogg is tipping Joe Root to be a ‘total failure’ for England this Ashes series.
Root, who many consider England’s greatest ever batsman, is yet to score a century in Australia from 14 Tests down under despite being the second-highest run scorer in Test cricket history.
While he’s reached 50 on nine occasions down under, Hogg simply believes that the England No. 4’s technique doesn’t work in Australian conditions, with the edge of his bat brought into play.
“Joe Root will be a total failure in this series. His technique does not work in Australia,” Hogg said on Channel 10.
“He’s got 39 Test match tons and he averages 51, but in Australia, he averages 35.
“He plays the ball under his nose. He loves to guide it down between third slip and gully.
“You can’t do that in Australia, you nick those. So, his technique does not work in Australia.
“Joe Root will be their weakness.”
While Hogg is tipping Root to be England’s weak point, he also conceded that Australia’s batting line-up isn’t the strongest with a question mark still over the opening positions.
Despite that, he considers the rest of the Aussie XI strong as they look to continue their home dominance over the Poms.
“We’ve got a little bit of a weakness around the opening batting,” Hogg said.
“We don’t know who’s going to open. I think Labuschagne will open the batting.
“But the rest of the team is nice and strong.”
The first Test between Australia and England begins on November 21 in Perth. Listen to every ball of the series on SEN – your home of cricket.
