Former Australia star takes jibe at Joe Root's poor Test record in Australia before Ashes 2025/26

David Warner, the former Australia opening batter, has taken a fresh jibe at the current second leading run-getter in Tests, Joe Root, regarding the latter’s poor performance in Tests down under. The veteran, who will have a stint with the London Spirit in the Hundred, calling Lord’s home for a month, couldn’t resist taking a dig at the Yorkshire batter.

Root, who has 38 centuries in the longest format, is yet to celebrate a red-ball ton down under. He recently went past Ricky Ponting to get the second post in the all-time runs list, besides equaling Kumar Sangakkara as the fourth most centuries.

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‘The big anchor there is Rooty [England batter Joe Root], who is yet to score a hundred in Australia. Josh Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.’ Warner expressed of Root, who has been dismissed 10 times in 18 Tests by the lanky NSW pacer, which is one fewer than Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, and India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

David Warner insults Joe Root’s Test record in Australia before Ashes 2025/26

Warner could face his former Ashes rival in the Hundred in James Anderson, who will turn up for the Manchester Originals against the Spirits on August 11. But the southpaw is confident of smashing the right-arm pacer, indicating the changes the white-ball and the 2018 Dukes ball bring.

‘They are 2025 white cricket balls, not 2018 red Dukes. It is going to be a bit different. He probably won't be able to seam it around corners like they normally do.’ Warner reflected as he was joined by another Australian in the side in the form of head coach Justin Langar, who has replaced Trevor Bayliss as the new head coach of the side.

‘I know Spirit hasn't gone too well in the past few years. For myself to bring some energy and intensity to the group and project in the field would be awesome. It is about the fans and the young kids that are coming out to see us, not about the player and whether there has been a bit of history or not.’ He reckoned.