Joe Root Century: England’s star batter Joe Root once again proved why he’s one of the finest batters of this generation, delivering a brilliant unbeaten 135 on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. Under the pink ball and the Brisbane lights, Root played an innings of class, composure, and sheer determination to pull England out of trouble and end the day at 325/9 after 74 overs.
This knock wasn’t just another century, it was Root’s 40th Test ton, a landmark that pushes him even further into all-time great territory and inches him closer to some of Sachin Tendulkar’s seemingly untouchable records.
A maiden Test ton for Joe Root in Australia 💪#WTC27 | #AUSvENG 📝: https://t.co/BNKjBSJuJb pic.twitter.com/osN32jDbSr
— ICC (@ICC) December 4, 2025
Root’s Run-Chase Towards Sachin’s Mountain of Records
Root’s unbeaten 135 has taken his Test tally to 13,686 runs in 291 innings, averaging 51.45. At 33 and still at the peak of his powers, Root continues his steady march towards Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 Test runs.
Right now, Root is 2,235 runs away from going past the Little Master and becoming the highest run-getter in Test history, a feat that once felt impossible for any modern-day batter. Root has already moved past Ponting and Kallis in the runs tally, and only one giant remains above him now, Sachin himself.
Can Root Catch Sachin’s Century Record Too?
Tendulkar’s 51 Test centuries remain the ultimate benchmark in the format. With Root now sitting at 40 hundreds, the gap has shrunk to a dozen centuries, a challenging but not impossible chase. Root is only behind Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis.
A Statement Knock When England Needed It Most
What made this innings even more special was the situation. England were rocked early and reduced to 5/2 after Mitchell Starc’s fiery opening spell. Root absorbed the pressure, rebuilt with Zak Crawley, and then held firm as wickets began to fall around him.
While Starc was the standout bowler with 6/71, the day belonged to Root, a batter who continues to redefine longevity and consistency in Test cricket.
As the Ashes battle heats up, one thing is clear: Joe Root isn’t just chasing Sachin’s shadow, he’s carving out his own legendary chapter in cricket history.
