WATCH: Joe Root gets monkey off his back, finally notches up his maiden Test hundred on Australian soil in 2nd Ashes Test

Joe Root scored his maiden Ashes hundred on Australian soil after 12 years on opening day of 'Pink Ball' Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.

Former England captain Joe Root had 39 Test tons to his name, is the second highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket but didn’t have a Test century on Australian soil. But that was before Thursday evening as the England legend notched up his maiden Test ton down under, rescuing English side from 5 for 2 on the opening day of the 2nd Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Root notched up an unbeaten 135 off 202 balls with one six and 15 fours as England bounced back from a humiliating loss inside two days in the opening Ashes 2025 Test in Perth last month. The 34-year-old Englishman posted his 40th century in Test cricket – becoming only the 4th batter to achieve this feat after Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to achieve this feat.

WATCH Joe Root bring up his maiden Test ton in Australia HERE…

HE’S FINALLY DONE IT!

Joe Root has his first #Ashes century in Australia.

Live blog: https://t.co/2htO3lMX8d pic.twitter.com/9uZ26zQnPp

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2025

Before this century, Root had 9 fifties to his name in Australia with a best of 89 in Brisbane in the Ashes 2021 series. He ended a 15-Test drought to score a hundred Down Under, dating back to his maiden Ashes tour in 2013.

Root is on his fourth Ashes tour to Australia and had scores of 0 and 8 in the eight-wicket loss in the series-opening Test in Perth. “Even Australians have to admit he is a great now,” former England captain Alastair Cook said on broadcaster TNT Sports.

The England batter was 88 not out at drinks midway through the night session. He moved into the 90s for the first time in Australia with a boundary off Brendan Doggett. He hit another boundary next ball to go to 96.

With Root unbeaten on 98, all-rounder Will Jacks chased a wide ball from Mitchell Starc and was out for 19 to end their 40-run stand with England on 251 for 7.

Root soon reached the century with a legside boundary against Scott Boland, kissed the badge on his batting helmet and then held up his bat to celebrate the milestone. The England and Wales Cricket Board wrote on X: “No doubt before. No doubt now. A true great of the game.”

It is Root’s 40th century in his 160th test. He is already the second highest run-scorer in history,

Root then went on to post 61 runs for the 10th wicket with pacer Jofra Archer – the best-ever for England vs Australia at the Gabba. Archer at the other end smashed 32 off 25 balls with 2 sixes to snatch back the initiative from Australia and end the opening day of ‘Pink Ball’ Ashes Test on 325 for 9 in 74 overs.