Skipper backs his star to fire

ASHES: STOKES SAYS ROOT WILL PRODUCE GOODS IN OZ

- 

IN FULL SWING. England batter Joe Root during plays a reverse sweep during their net session at Lilac Hill Park in Perth yesterday. Picture:

(Getty Images)

Skipper Ben Stokes hailed Joe Root as England's greatest batsman yesterday and backed him to fire in the Ashes against Australia, while hyping up his team's vaunted pace attack.

England's record run-scorer is yet to win a Test in Australia in 14 attempts and is still searching for his first ton, despite boasting 39 hundreds in his career.

Root, 34, arrived in Perth this week to newspaper headlines calling him Average Joe as pundits highlighted his supposed shortcomings.

But Stokes said he had no concerns about Root's failure to make three figures in Australia in the past.