For the 2013 Ashes series, Root was named as the opening batsman to partner captain Alastair Cook after selectors decided to drop Nick Compton from the England squad. Root was promoted to opening batsman for the first Test and made scores of 30 and 5, and whilst bowling, took his 1st Test wicket when he got Ed Cowan out in the second innings. Root started the second Test with a score of 6 which once again meant that he failed to make a score as an opener. However, in the second innings Alastair Cook did not enforce the follow on and Root made 180 before England declared. In the Australian final innings Root was responsible for taking the wickets of Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke when both batsmen were on 50 plus scores. Root was named Man of the Match for his performance with the bat and the ball. The third Test wasn't Root's best as he was out for 8 in the first innings; nonetheless, he managed to hit 13* off 57 balls in the second innings before rain brought the match to an end, meaning that England retained the Ashes. England won the fourth Test and won the series. In the fifth Test Root top scored in England's first innings as he hit 68 runs, however in England's second innings they were chasing a score the Australians had set but Joe only managed to get 11 runs. He finished the Test series with 339 runs and 3 wickets.