Ashes 2025-26: Joe Root scores first Test century in Australia during second Test

Root’s knock was not without its moments of tension.

On 88, one short of his previous best in Australia, Root berated himself for pushing and missing outside off stump to bowler Cameron Green.

There were lbw reviews on 62 and 73 – Scott Boland the bowler on both occasions – but the first would have missed the stumps and the second hit Root’s front pad outside off stump.

Talk about Root’s Australian record ramped up in the summer when former Australia batter David Warner referenced his “surfboard” of a front pad.

In truth, edging to the wicketkeeper and slips has been his real weakness with another dismissal in that manner in the first Test in Perth making it nine in his past 12 innings down under.

Root could have fallen in that fashion with only two to his name. He was squared up by Mitchell Starc, as he was in the first innings in Perth, and nicked towards the cordon.

The ball would not not have carried Marnus Labuschagne at first slip but Steve Smith, diving across from second, got a hand to the ball only for it to fall from his grasp.

From there Root batted smartly.

Guiding the ball behind point is one of his biggest strengths at home but that shot has been blamed for his struggles in Australia, where the ball bounces higher and edges are found.

In Brisbane, Root scored just 10% of his first 50 runs behind square on the off-side, instead targeting the ‘V’ down the ground. Only later did that familiar stroke return.

Root also made a conscious effort to get down the pitch to negate any movement with the pink ball.

His average interception point was 1.87m from the stumps – the highest in all but one of his innings in Australia.

Few will be happier that Root reached three figures than former Australia opener Matthew Hayden, who promised to walk around the Melbourne Cricket Ground naked if he did not score a hundred in the series.

“Congratulations on a hundred here in Australia mate,” Hayden said.

“Took you a while and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally.

“I was backing you for a hundred in a good way.

“Congratulations, 10 fifties and finally a hundred. You little ripper mate, have a beauty and enjoy it.”

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