James Anderson names England star who has a ‘point to prove’ against Australia in the Ashes

James Anderson believes that Joe Root has a ‘point to prove’ in this Ashes series, but backed the England batter to shine as Ben Stokes’ side look to upset the odds in Australia.

Root has been a run machine for England in recent years, getting back to his consistent and match-winning best, having freed himself from the burden of captaincy in 2022.

Now England’s all-time leading run-scorer, Root has an average of 63.44 in 2025 and 14 Test centuries since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took over in 2022.

But despite all his accolades and achievements, the Yorkshireman has yet to quite put it together Down Under, averaging only 35.68 in his 27 Test innings in Australia.

A first Test century in Australia also still awaits Root, although he has scored nine fifties down under – a tally only bettered by Sir Alastair Cook and Ian Bell for England this century.

After a long and drawn-out buildup, the five-match Test series finally begins in the early hours of Friday morning at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

England will need Root at their very best if they are to improve upon their sorry recent record in Australia, which has seen them lose the three series by an aggregate scoreline of 13-0.

And England bowling great Anderson has tipped his former teammate to silence the doubters and do ‘something pretty special’ with bat in hand this series.

‘A lot has been made about Joe Root in the build up to the Ashes, that he’s not achieved a century in Australia,’ Anderson told the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025.

‘He averages below 40 in Australia, so I feel like he’s got a point to prove.

‘When you’ve got a player of that quality who wants to prove a point, more often than not, they’ll do something pretty special. So, I’m hopeful that he’ll show people what he can do.’

England have only played one warm-up match against the Lions to prepare themselves for this series, a decision that has come in for heavy criticism from some quarters.

But while Anderson isn’t concerned by England’s lack of match time prior to the series, the 43-year-old warned that a fiery first-Test pitch at Perth could prove tricky for the visiting batsmen if they haven’t put the time in in the nets.

‘It doesn’t concern me, just because that’s the nature of cricket now,’ Anderson said of England’s preparation for the Ashes.

‘There’s so much cricket going on around the world and players are used to just flying in and getting underway, having a few nets and then straight into a Test series. So, I don’t think that’s a concern.

‘Perth is famously a quick and bouncy wicket, which will lend itself to England’s bowlers. I don’t know whether they’ll play both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in the same team, but it could be a real spectacle if they do.

‘The real challenge is for the batters. It is a different type of bounce that you don’t get in England, so it’s going to take a little bit of adjustment. Hopefully they’ve got enough time to practice in the nets and get used to it, so they’ll know what to expect when that first Test comes around.’

Elsewhere, selection headaches and injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood have left the hosts somewhat in a state of limbo ahead of the first Test.

Veteran Usman Khawaja is expected to open the batting, but Australia has yet to confirm who he will be partnered with at the top of the order.

The uncapped Jake Weatherald could be given a shot, while Marnus Labuschagne might also be promoted to open the batting, but Anderson said England must capitalise on that uncertainty to put early pressure on the hosts.

‘I’d be trying to exploit their top order, but there’s been a bit of uncertainty as to who is going to open the batting,’ he said.

‘They need to put pressure on Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and whoever else bats in that top three.

‘If they can get three early wickets, that puts the pressure on Steve Smith and Travis Head in the middle order, who are two of Australia’s more reliable players. That’s going to make a massive difference and could be a pivotal part as to whether England can win or not.’

Regardless, the legendary England bowler expects it to be a close series. ‘I can’t pick at the moment which way it’s going to go,’ he said. ‘I think it’ll end up 3-2 either way.’

Sir James Anderson’s book ‘Finding The Edge’ has been shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, the longest established and most valuable literary sports-writing prize in the world.

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