England' Joe Root 'Desperate' To Play In Ashes But Won't Commit Yet

England captain Joe Root says he is "desperate" to play in the Ashes but cannot yet commit to tour Australia due to uncertainty over coronavirus protocols. Players and team management have yet to lear

Although the fifth Test is scheduled to take place in Perth, it could be moved to another venue given the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Western Australia.

And the emergence of four new coronavirus cases in Queensland, the venue for the Ashes opener, led to the postponement of a first-class Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at just an hour's notice on Tuesday.

Such a move will do little to allay the concerns of England players who have doubts about touring.

Root said: "I think it's really important everyone makes a decision that they're comfortable with. There's so many different factors that fall into it and hopefully we're in a position where it's not an issue."

Root has so far enjoyed a memorable 2021, scoring 1,455 runs at an average of 66.13 in 12 Tests, with two double hundreds and four centuries but he is yet to score a Test century in Australia.

Reminded of his lack of a Test ton in Australia, he replied: "I'm very aware of that and it's something that I desperately want to put right."