As much as Joe Root and the England team and their fans were relieved with the former England captain registering his maiden Test century on Australian soil, perhaps even more relieved was one Australian: Matthew Hayden. And for some hilarious reasons.
On the opening day of the 2nd Test of the Ashes 2025-26, at the Gabba in Brisbane, Root ended his long-standing wait for a Test century in Australia as he anchored England’s first innings to a solid position by stumps.
A bona fide legend, Root, who is the second-highest Test run-scorer, had raised Test centuries in seven different countries before the start of this Ashes series. However, many had brought down some part of his legacy because he had not achieved a three-digit score in a Test match in Australia, and also had not won a single Test down under, having first played this format in Australia in 2013.
One box of the abovementioned has now been ticked off as Root reached his first Test ton in Australia in Brisbane after Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first.
Root has been in a rich vein of form over the last few years, ransacking runs with utter ease and raising centuries with unbelievable consistency.
AUS vs ENG: Here’s How Joe Root Saved Matthew Hayden From Embarrassment Of ‘Walking Nude Around MCG’ After His Century At Gabba
Ahead of this Ashes, while many had predicted for Root to have a good time with the bat, Australian legend Matthew Hayden went overboard: Hayden hilariously declared that: “I’ll walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t get a hundred this summer.”
Hayden’s quote went viral on social media, and the former opener was being reminded of it after Root got out cheaply in the first Test in Perth, and also as he neared the century mark in Brisbane.
So, eventually, not only did Joe Root brake his jinx of a Test century in Australia, he also saved Hayden from the embarrassment of, well, who knows if he would’ve followed through with his commitment had Root gone century less back home.
After the end of day’s play in Brisbane, Hayden congratulated Root and invoked his prediction in a funny way.
Hayden said in his social media message to Root: “Congratulations mate for a hundred here in Australia. Took you a while and there was no one with more skin in the game than me, literally. I was backing you for a hundred, in a good way. So, mate congratulations.”
While Root has not got one monkey off his back, he will aim for another one: a maiden Test win in Australia.
England ended day 1 at the Gabba on a resounding note at 325/9, with Root and Jofra Archer sharing an entertaining 10th wicket stand of 61(44), which they will resume on Friday morning.
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