NEW DELHI: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has dismissed Darren Lehmann’s recent criticism of Joe Root, following the ex-Australia coach’s claim that Root isn’t an all-time great due to his failure to score a century in Australia across three Ashes series.
Speaking on ABC during the first Test between Australia and India, Lehmann questioned whether Root was an all-time great given he’s yet to score a century down under across three Ashes series. He also ranked Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Virat Kohli higher, noting their success in challenging conditions worldwide.
"Nope, he is a rung below for that reason. They’ve made runs all over the world in difficult conditions against different oppositions, and that's the only thing stopping Joe Root. I think he's a great player, but is he an all-time great? I don't have him in that realm. I think you've got to make hundreds all around the world, " Lehmann had said.
Speaking on SEN Mornings, Vaughan called Lehmann’s comments “nonsense, ” highlighting Root’s impressive career stats, including 12, 777 Test runs and 35 centuries. He believes Root, who has yet to score a century in 27 innings in Australia, will finally break his Ashes duck next year.
“What a load of nonsense. We're talking about a player that could quite easily - if he stays fit and that back stays strong – surpass Sachin Tendulkar in a few years (for overall Test runs). Just because he's not got a hundred here in Australia, this isn’t the be-all and end-all, " Vaughan said
“You'd like to come here, and score runs. But he'll come next year in the way that he's playing in this England side now at four - playing the Joe Root way rather than the Bazball way - I’ve got a sneaky feeling that might come back to haunt Darren next year, " he added.
He suggested that Root's current form and the England team’s approach could lead to success on Australian soil, despite the challenges of playing with the Kookaburra ball.
“He might get a couple of hundreds next year and the way that England are playing, particularly against this Kookaburra ball, I think it's going to be a great contest, " said Vaughan.