BRISBANE: Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has praised Joe Root after the England great finally ended his long-standing Test century drought on Australian soil during Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba on Thursday.
Root, the world’s second-highest run-scorer among active Test players, had arrived in Australia with a surprising gap in his otherwise glittering career — no Test centuries in Australia, despite 10 fifties and 892 runs at an average of 35.68.
But the 34-year-old’s remarkable form since 2022 — 15 Test hundreds at 64.64 — created huge anticipation about whether he could finally break the hoodoo during this Ashes series.
In the build-up to the Ashes, some former Australian cricketers mocked Root’s century drought, but Hayden strongly backed the England batter to get one “this summer.” In fact, Hayden famously promised on the All Over Bar The Cricket YouTube podcast:
“I will walk n*de around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred this summer.”
Root Delivers Under Pressure
Root lived up to expectations in spectacular fashion, scoring a commanding unbeaten 135 off 202 balls, including 15 fours and a six, to guide England to 325/9 at stumps on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test.
Minutes after Root reached the milestone, England Cricket reposted Hayden’s earlier statement, as the legendary opener reacted with relief — and a bit of humour.
Hayden’s Reaction: “You Little Ripper!”
In a video message, Hayden congratulated Root and joked about how “invested” he was in the century:
“Good day, Joe. Congratulations mate on the hundred here in Australia. Took you a while, and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally.”
“I was backing you in a good way. So mate, congratulations — 10 fifties and finally a hundred. You little ripper! Enjoy it.”
Root’s century not only breaks a personal barrier but also injects momentum into England’s Ashes campaign as they aim to challenge Australia on their home turf.
