Cricket: Root Dismisses Warner’s Jibe as ‘All Part of the Fun’ Ahead of Ashes

England batting ace Joe Root has brushed aside a playful dig from Australian cricket star David Warner, describing it as harmless banter and part of the theatre that surrounds the Ashes.

The exchange began when Warner, a former Australian opener, teased Root about his record in Australia, joking that the England No. 1 Test batter would need to “take the surfboard off his front leg” if he hoped to succeed this time around. The remark was a tongue-in-cheek reference to Root’s past dismissals — particularly being trapped lbw by Australian bowlers like Josh Hazlewood during previous tours.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Root was quick to downplay the comment, saying it would have no bearing on his preparations.

“I can’t control what people say or how they see the game,” Root said with a smile. “It’s irrelevant to me. I guess it’s all part of the fun. When you get out there, you just focus on impacting the game.”

Root, currently ranked the ICC’s top Test batsman, has been central to England’s revival in red-ball cricket under the aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach. While acknowledging the Ashes rivalry thrives on such verbal sparring, he insisted his focus was solely on performance.

“You want to make sure that it’s not a talking point six months or 100 days later — the only way to do that is by scoring runs,” he added.

The winter Ashes series in Australia is already building anticipation, with both sides exchanging light-hearted jibes in the media. For Root, the chatter is nothing new — but the former England captain knows the real response will come with the bat when the series begins.

The Ashes remain one of cricket’s most fiercely contested rivalries, and with Warner’s comments setting the tone, fans can expect the mind games to continue right up until the first ball is bowled.