AUS vs ENG: Joe Root’s maiden Test century on Australian soil didn’t just steady England on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test, it saved Matthew Hayden from one of the most bizarre public challenges ever thrown around in cricket banter.
Earlier this summer, the Australian legend had boldly claimed he would “run nude around the MCG” if Root failed to notch up a hundred in Australia. What started as light-hearted pre-series humour suddenly became a global talking point, thanks in large part to Hayden’s daughter, Grace Hayden.
Root Finally Gets His Australian Century
Coming into the pink-ball Test at The Gabba, Root was carrying a surprising stat on his back. For all his brilliance, nearly 12,000 Test runs, dozens of centuries, he had never scored a Test hundred in Australia. It was a curious gap in an otherwise elite career.
Walking in on a tricky surface with England wobbling early, Root settled into classic rhythm. He absorbed the early pressure, stitched a vital partnership with Zak Crawley, and slowly started dictating terms. His innings was a mix of trademark late cuts, smooth drives, and ice-cool temperament everything you expect from Root when he’s locked in.
Rooty's historic century leads the way on day one in Brisbane! 🙌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 4, 2025
Watch the best of the day's action from the Gabba right here 👇
After 181 deliveries, the moment finally arrived. Root raised his bat for his first-ever century Down Under, his 40th in Tests, and undeniably one of his most meaningful.
The applause wasn’t just from the England dressing room. There was plenty of relief coming from the other side of the world too.
Grace Hayden Becomes the Star of the Subplot
Before the Test, Grace Hayden, sports presenter, commentator, and Matthew Hayden’s daughter had made a public plea to Root on social media: “Please @root66 make a hundred.”
The internet didn’t need any encouragement. Memes flooded timelines. The idea of Hayden running naked around the MCG became an unexpected Ashes storyline.
So when Root finally brought up the hundred, Grace celebrated as if England had just retained the Ashes. Her hilarious Instagram story “Root, thank you – you’ve saved all our eyes” went instantly viral. Fans from both sides loved the humour, and Grace found herself becoming one of the week’s biggest Ashes personalities.
Matthew Hayden’s daughter’s Instagram story on Joe Root’s hundred. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/OeCZLJk5N5
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 4, 2025
Matthew Hayden’s Priceless Reaction
Once Root got the monkey off his back, even Matthew Hayden joined in on the fun. In a video shared by England Cricket, he laughed off his pre-series claim with his usual charm.
“Congratulations mate… There was no one who had more skin in the game than me literally,” Hayden joked, tipping his hat to Root’s perseverance after ten previous fifties in Australia that never became centuries.
Behind the humour was genuine respect. Hayden knows exactly how tough it is to score big runs in Australia, and he didn’t hide his admiration for Root’s milestone.
A Century With Extra Meaning
For Joe Root, the hundred at The Gabba was more than just numbers on a scorecard, it was a long-awaited achievement that filled the only obvious gap in his Test resume. For cricket fans, it gave the Ashes a brilliant mix of sporting quality and off-field entertainment.
