Ashes 2025-26: Steve Harmison drops jaw-dropping prediction on Joe Root’s potential average and series score

As England prepare their much awaited Ashes 2025-26 turned downward, all attention turns to Joe Racinethe world’s highest-ranked Test batter and one of the modern greats. Root, who comes just behind Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time Test rankings, enters this series with a point to prove. Despite his genius elsewhere, Australia remains an unbeaten frontier, 14 Tests, no centuries and no victories. The challenge is clear: transform consistency into domination on hostile Australian soil.

Steve Harmison makes bold prediction on Joe Root’s series average and 2025-26 Ashes score

Former England fast bowler and 2005 Ashes hero Steve Harmon has made a headline-grabbing prediction, Joe Root will not only perform but dominate in Australia. Speaking to Fox Cricket, Harmison claimed“People have been telling me for two years that Joe Root averages 50. That’s not the case. I think he averages 150.” The veteran pacer believes Root’s current pace, mindset and thirst for redemption could see him eclipse even Alastair Cook’s legendary tally of 766 runs in the 2010-11 Ashes.

Harmison also believes the stars are aligning for England. With the Australian skipper Patrick Cummins Nursing a back injury and England’s fearless new generation adopting the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style, the ex-pacer sees this as England’s moment. Harmison added that while Root may look fragile for the first 15-20 balls, his adaptability and patience make him almost unstoppable after that. Confidently predicting a 3-1 victory for England, he concluded that the tourists no longer fear Australia, a mental advantage that could finally end a decade-long drought in the southern hemisphere.

“I’m backing England, maybe 3-1 to come to Australia and face Australia and Joe Root to have the best series he’s had in a long time. I’m confident England will win. Where Joe is mentally and without Cummins, I think he’ll flourish. He’s vulnerable for the first 15-20 balls, but after that he keeps piling on. England are no longer afraid of Australia. I Don’t think there’s any fear in the world with the way these young players approach the game,” » concludes Harmonison.

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Root’s Australian Challenge: A Battle for Greatness

For Joe Root, Ashes is more than just another series, it’s a personal story waiting to be rewritten. His Test CV boasts more than 11,000 runs, but the glaring absence of an Australian century has long been the only blemish on an otherwise illustrious record. Root’s quest for redemption isn’t just about form; it’s a question of inheritance. He is within touching distance of Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 runs, and a prolific series could narrow that gap considerably.

Australia, on the other hand, remain formidable at home, having dominated every visiting team since 2011. Yet Root’s renewed confidence and England’s attacking approach offer a new narrative. If he can adapt to the bounce early and settle into his rhythm, a career-defining century, or perhaps a few, may not be far away. The Ashes of 2025-26 may well be remembered as the series that restored Root’s supremacy and ended England’s long and painful wait for an away triumph.

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