InMobi

Root seeks revenge for 2013 whitewash

England captain using pain from being dropped for Sydney whitewash Test in 2014 to drive him on

With the memories of his nightmare 2013 tour of Australia still burning bright, England skipper Joe Root has vowed to return home with the Magellan Ashes in his grasp.

With his side's preparations dominated by the likely absence of Ben Stokes following his arrest for a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub, Root's side face a huge task against a Steve Smith team on home soil.

England have won just one series in Australia in 30 years and were whitewashed 5-0 on their last visit four years ago.

Root was dumped from the side for the fifth Test in Sydney as Alastair Cook's team were demolished by the Mitchell Johnson-inspired hosts.

Watch all of Johnson's 37 Ashes wickets

The Yorkshireman has since bounced back to become one of the best batsmen in the world and was integral in the 3-2 series win over Australia in 2015.

But he admits that his axing at the SCG following a low run of scores cut him deeply.

"It was hard. It was a tough tour all round," Root said at Lord's on Friday.

"That's a great motivation for this one. You want to make sure you have completely different memories.

"I'm obviously a very different player now to what I was last time we were there and that excites me.

"I didn't know if I'd get another opportunity. You don't, as a 22-year-old lad being left out for the first time."

Root and Cook are the two linchpins of England's top order with rookie batsmen Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan, James Vince all having played less than 10 Tests between them.

Gary Ballance has also struggled against the Australian quicks in the past but Root has urged his players to relish the opportunity to make themselves heroes.

"When you do get your chance to play, stand up and really grasp it with both hands," he said.

"It's a great place to go and play cricket. The pitches are fantastic and it can be a good place to go and bat, and score big runs.

"I don't think we should be daunted by the chat and the noise that can be around an Ashes tour.

"We should be excited about the opportunity and everything that it presents, and try and prove a lot of people wrong over there."

Steve Waugh's captaincy advice for Steve Smith

Root admits the Stokes situation has been difficult for him given his close relationship with the fiery allrounder, whose wedding he attended earlier this month.

However, he refused to say what kind of conversation the pair had after news emerged of his vice-captain's likely exile from the biggest tour of his brief reign as captain.

"That's between me and Ben, being brutally honest," he said.

"That should stay between us. It is disappointing that he's not going to be on the trip but you have to move on and move forward as a team."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21