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He is England's highest run-scorer at Test level – but that hasn't stopped an Aussie newspaper from targeting captain Joe Root with a very sexualised two-word insult.
On Tuesday, the West Australian ran a front page image of the star batsman arriving in Perth just days ahead of the first Test.
After brutally labelling the veteran 'Average Joe' in its headline, the publication then went a step further by branding him a 'Dud Root Down Under', referencing the fact the 34-year-old has never scored a century on Australian soil across his decorated career.
'Dud root' is Aussie slang for someone who isn't very good in bed.
The tongue-in-cheek insult adds further spice to the eagerly anticipated Ashes series, which starts with the first Test in Perth from November 21.
Root – a renowned perfectionist with the willow in hand – was spotted in the nets at England's Lilac Hill Park base on Monday.
He is England's highest run-scorer at Test level – but that hasn't stopped an Aussie newspaper from targeting captain Joe Root (pictured) with a very sexualised two-word insult
The West Australian labelled the star batter a 'Dud Root Down Under', referencing the fact the 34-year-old has never plundered a century on Australian soil across his decorated career
It adds further spice to the eagerly anticipated Ashes series, which starts with the first Test in Perth from November 21 (Root is pictured with wife Carrie Cotterell)
The world's No.1-ranked Test batter worked his way through a lengthy session, including facing a spell from spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Injury-prone paceman Jofra Archer also got to work, sending down a few deliveries before grabbing a bat and working on his technique with a handful of teammates.
The tourists' sole warm-up game is against the England Lions at Lilac Hill, with play beginning on November 13.
Meanwhile, Aussie quick Mitchell Starc has called for curators to roll out lively pitches for the Ashes.
Curators will be under the microscope, with Australia's players desperate for greener wickets they believe can decimate England's batting line-up.
At the same time, Cricket Australia believes this summer can provide a much-needed financial windfall, with record crowds expected.
'I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want,' Starc said on Monday.
'If we're worried about five days of revenue [across each Test], then there's bigger problems at hand.'
Stand-in captain Steve Smith and his deputy Travis Head are among other Australian players who crave lively wickets this summer.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg just wants to see a competitive series.
'If I could get the roller out myself [to ensure green decks], I'd be on it,' Greenberg joked recently.
'There are competing demands in Australian cricket and I understand that.
'There's the performance demands and what might suit the teams best. There are commercial returns, which are really important.
'But ultimately, I think what we want to see is, in every city, that the wickets play like they should and there's a great balance between bat and ball.'
