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Bharat: How long will Joe Root go on for?
SEN • December 21st, 2025 4:31 pm
With the likelihood of yet another Ashes loss on Australian soil on the cards for England, Bharat Sundaresan has pondered what it means for Joe Root’s career.
Throughout his Test career, there has been very little that the Yorkshireman hasn’t accomplished as a batsman.
He is now the second-highest run scorer in Test cricket and has managed to score a century in nearly every country he has played in, showing his quality.
But if there has been one thing that has alluded him, it’s achieving success in Australia.
In Root’s fourth away Ashes series, which has seen him play 17 Tests, he is yet to win a single game and has only scored one century, highlighting the struggles that the visitors have had since their series win in 2010/11.
And with the possibility of having incurred yet another away Ashes loss, it has led Sundaresan to wonder what the effect would be on Root’s career, particularly if they don’t win in the remaining three matches.
“I do wonder, how long will Joe Root go on for?” he said on SEN’s The New Ball.
“I had this thought in my head, not that I know Joe too well, but with the Ashes going the way it is…you could see that he was bouyed by this opportunity to be apart of this English team.
"Yes Joe Root has made the hundred, but it hasn’t (been) the series (they wanted)…and potentially they might end up 5-0 down, how much longer does Joe Root continue?
“You’re talking about superstar cricketers (in Root) and a lot of them, once they get to a stage in their careers, they play of these kinds of moments, the big ones.
“And England rarely qualify for the World Test Championship Final, so you can cross that (out).
“So, I guess the next home Ashes, maybe he’ll want to go out on a high.
“But crazy things happen when England come here and lose (an) Ashes series, so (it’s) something to keep our eye on.”
Day 5 is currently underway with England having managed to get through to Lunch as they attempt to chase down Australia’s target of 435.
You can listen live to SEN’s ball-by-ball commentary through the SEN app or its radio network, or follow all the big moments on SEN.com.au’s live blog of the day’s play here.
