After 12 years, 2,213 deliveries and countless near misses, Joe Root finally brought up his long-awaited Ashes century in Australia. The milestone arrived when he glanced Scott Boland for a single off his 181st ball a moment that lifted an enormous psychological burden carried ever since his maiden Ashes tour in 2013. A talent destined for greatness, he meets the toughest battleground.
When Joe Root first strode out to bat at The Gabba as a 22-year-old, he was England’s prodigy-a gifted Yorkshireman tipped for a generational career. Yet no one at that time could have predicted how brutally Australia would challenge him.
Across multiple tours, Root has faced failure, frustration, repeated heartbreak, and went into this Test still without a single hundred on Australian soil.
An Ironic Shrug Marks a Moment of Freedom
Root’s understated celebration a wry shrug spoke volumes louder than any roar. He seemed to be saying: “What were you all worried about?
For years, the century had been a millstone, drawing scrutiny and forcing Root to grind tirelessly behind the scenes. His marathon training session at Lilac Hills before the series showed just how deeply he chased perfection.
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A Milestone That Transforms England’s Narrative
The 40th Test ton of Root’s career, his fourth of the year and tenth since 2024, changed the entire vibe around England’s Ashes campaign. For those who wanted to quibble, Australia were without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. But a hundred is a hundred, and Joe Root earned every run.
Ben Stokes Shares the Emotion of Root’s Triumph
“When Root’s eleventh boundary reached the rope, captain Ben Stokes shouted “GO BALL!” before fighting back tears. From the bitter 2013-14 tour to the struggles of 2017-18 and the Covid-hit 2021-22 Ashes, their journeys in Australia have been intertwined. No moment under Stokes’ captaincy may give him more pride than watching Root finally conquer his greatest challenge.
Root the Constant in a Turbulent England Side
Australia nearly removed Joe Root early again Steve Smith spilled a tough chance when he was on 2. But Root survived, stabilised the innings and ended unbeaten on 135 as England closed on 325 for 9. As so often, he was the calm presence in a chaotic team – the adult among talented but inconsistent teammates.
Surviving the Storm to Then Take Control
Root was in at 5 for 2, his third-earliest entry into a Test innings in Australia. Early on, he was fidgety, tight and uncertain in his movements. But he held firm with Zak Crawley, whose rollicking 71 in a stand of 117 gave Root the breathing room he needed.
Weathering Pressure Under the Lights
As the pink ball started to swing under the artificial lights, tight fields and disciplined bowling tested Root’s patience. A long spell without a boundary finally came to an end when he drove Scott Boland down the ground, a classic Joe Root release shot.
A Crucial Moment: The Stokes Run-Out
When Ben Stokes was run out after a mix-up, Root stayed composed. Had he taken the call, England would likely have crumbled from 77 for 3. Instead, Root held the innings together as wickets fell around him. Freedom Beyond the Milestone Once he reached his hundred, Root played with unrestrained confidence.
His reverse-scoop off Boland after earlier botching one against Starc provided England’s first six of the innings and capped a joyous late-day partnership with Jofra Archer worth 61 runs.
Root Reinforces His Position as England’s All-Time Greatest Batter Joe Root kept England’s Ashes hopes alive, but more importantly for him, his long-awaited century in Australia has strengthened rather than rescued his legacy. It was something the greatest England batter of all time had not done before.
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