Joe Root’s first Ashes century in Australia stops Matthew Hayden’s ‘walking nude in Melbourne’ dare, video goes viral

Joe Root finally scored a century in an Ashes Test in Australia for England, ending a long wait. The world's top-ranked Test batter broke a 15-match century drought in Australia.

Joe Root finally scored a century in an Ashes Test in Australia for England, ending a long wait. The world’s top-ranked Test batter broke a 15-match century drought in Australia, which had lasted since 2013, by reaching triple figures on Thursday during the first session of Day 1 in the second Test at the Gabba. This is Root’s fourth Ashes tour in Australia, where his previous best score was 89. He had made just 0 and 8 in England’s eight-wicket defeat in the opening Test in Perth.

One person who was probably even more relieved than Root was Matthew Hayden. In September, on the YouTube podcast All Over Bar the Cricket, Hayden had set himself a big challenge if Root didn’t score a century in Australia during the series, saying: “I will walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred this summer.”

Commenting on the quote, Hayden’s daughter Grace, who is a cricket commentator, said: “Please @root66 make a hundred.”

Root has clearly saved Hayden. “Congratulations, mate. No one had more skin in the game than me, literally. I was backing you for a hundred in a good way.”

Ex-England captain Alastair Cook made a playful dig at Australia after the century. “Even Australians have to admit he is a great now,” former England captain Alastair Cook said on broadcaster TNT Sports.

Where is the video?

Let’s cross LIVE to Matthew Hayden after Joe Root’s century…

#Ashes pic.twitter.com/4Wnnp5vsMN

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 4, 2025

Root was 88 not out at drinks in the middle of the night session. He reached the 90s in Australia for the first time with a boundary off Brendan Doggett, and hit another four on the next ball to move to 96.

When Root was on 98, Will Jacks played a risky shot against Mitchell Starc and was dismissed for 19, ending their 40-run partnership. England’s score was 251 for 7.

Root then completed his century with a leg-side boundary off Scott Boland. He kissed the badge on his helmet and raised his bat to celebrate the achievement.

The England and Wales Cricket Board wrote on X: “No doubt before. No doubt now. A true great of the game.”

This was Joe Root’s 40th Test hundred in his 160th match. He is also the second-leading run-scorer in Test cricket history.