Joe Root Archives

Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting’s record in fifth Ashes Test

SYDNEY: Joe Root added another landmark to his illustrious career on Monday, drawing level with Australia great Ricky Ponting on the all-time list of men’s Test centuries during the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

The former England captain brought up his 41st Test hundred with a composed knock that stood out in an otherwise challenging innings for the tourists, who entered the match trailing 3-1 in the five-Test contest.

Resuming on 72 on the second day after rain curtailed play on the opening day, Root batted with characteristic control despite increased intensity from the Australian bowlers and a surface that offered variable bounce.

He reached the three-figure mark with a push for two off Michael Neser, bringing up his 41st Test century in his 163rd Test.

At 35, Root now shares third place on the all-time Test century list with Ponting, with only South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) and India legend Sachin Tendulkar (51) ahead of him.

While wickets continued to tumble at the other end, with Harry Brook (84), Ben Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) all departing, Joe Root remained unflustered.

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He went to lunch unbeaten on 138 before extending his innings further in the middle session, eventually passing the 150 mark.

Root’s resistance finally ended on 160 when Michael Neser produced an athletic caught-and-bowled effort to remove the England mainstay.

Notably, it marked Root’s second century of the tour, having failed to register a hundred in his previous 14 Test appearances in Australia before this Ashes series.

England were eventually dismissed for 384, with last man Josh Tongue falling in the same over as Root.

For Australia, Neser led the bowling effort with four wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland chipped in with two apiece.

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Root says ‘silly’ to change England management after Ashes loss

Veteran England batter Joe Root has said it would be “silly” to change the team management after losing the Ashes, with players “absolutely committed” to the current set-up.

England meekly surrendered the famous urn after just 11 days of play with back-to-back eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run loss at Adelaide.

Their capitulation was compounded by criticism of their low-key preparations and allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-series beach break in Noosa.

The team restored some pride with a frantic four-wicket win in Melbourne, snapping an 18-match winless streak on Australian soil.

It relieved pressure on coach Brendon McCullum, skipper Ben Stokes and cricket chief Rob Key, who have all indicated they want to stay in their roles.

“In terms of the playing group, we’re absolutely committed to the management,” Root, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer and a former captain, told English media in Melbourne.

“Yes, we can be better, and there are certain areas that we’ll continue to keep working at, but the management works extremely hard.

“They might do things in a slightly different way, but I think we’ve made great strides as a group, and a big reason for it is because of the guys we have behind us.”

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Management’s case to stay on would be strengthened by another win in the fifth Test in Sydney starting Sunday.

Joe Root was captain on England’s last tour of Australia in 2021-22 when they were crushed 4-0, costing coach Chris Silverwood and cricket director Ashley Giles their jobs.

But Root said a lot of progress had been made since under the current regime.

“You look at the group of players we’ve got, and you look at the guys that were involved in the team when I was captain, four years ago, and you look at their records individually, and every single one of them has improved as a player,” he said.

“This team has improved. I think it would be silly (to consider change) for the amount of hard work and things that have been done.”

Victory in Melbourne was Root’s first in Australia in more than a decade of trying, and he said it “would be better if we win next week as well”.

“If we can build on it and do it again next time, it’s momentum in the right direction for the next tour here (in 2029-30),” he added.

READ: Injured England pacer ruled out of fifth Ashes Test in Sydney

Joe Root surpasses Asad Shafiq’s Test record against Australia

BRISBANE: England ace batter Joe Root surpassed former Pakistan batter Asad Shafiq’s record of the highest individual score against Australia in a pink-ball Test.

Shafiq, who retired in 2023, hit 137 during Pakistan’s tour of Australia in 2016 in a day/night Test.

Notably, Faf du Plessis, who is set to feature in the forthcoming PSL 11, also scored 118* in Adelaide back in 2016.

However, earlier today, Root shattered the long-standing record with an unbeaten 138 during day two of the second Ashes Test, playing a major role in bringing England’s total to 334.

Highest individual score vs Australia in Day/Night Tests

138* – Joe Root, Gabba 2025
137 – Asad Shafiq, Gabba 2016
118* – Faf du Plessis, Adelaide 2016
113 – Yasir Shah, Adelaide 2019
104 – Stephen Cook, Adelaide 2016

For the unversed, Joe Root ended his long wait for a Test century on Australian soil with a fighting hundred on day one of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba on Thursday.

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Coming into the contest under heavy scrutiny after twin failures in Perth, where England were bundled out inside two days, the former captain delivered a statement knock under pressure.

He walked in with his side in early trouble at 5-2 after a hostile opening burst from Mitchell Starc and immediately shifted the momentum with a composed, authoritative display.

Root rebuilt the innings with a crucial 117-run stand alongside opener Zak Crawley, who contributed 76, before continuing the fight almost single-handedly as wickets fell regularly at the other end.

The milestone moment arrived when Joe Root drove Scott Boland to the rope to bring up his 40th Test century, his first in Australia.

With that effort, the right-hander became only the fourth batter in history to reach the 40-century mark, joining an elite club featuring Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar.

He has now scored Test centuries in eight of the ten countries he has played in.

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WATCH: Hayden delighted as Root ends century jinx in Australia

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday as he expressed gratitude to England’s Joe Root, who finally ended his century jinx in Australia during the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Earlier in the day, England’s premier batter Joe Root finally ended his long wait for a Test century on Australian soil with a fighting hundred on day one of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba.

Coming into the contest under heavy scrutiny after twin failures in Perth, where England were bundled out inside two days, the former captain delivered a statement knock under pressure.

The 34-year-old remained unbeaten at the end of the day’s play with 135 runs scored from 202 balls.

Joe Root, who is also the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, had failed to hit a century on his previous Ashes tours.

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The ace batter had 892 runs to his name at an average of 35.68 with the help of 10 fifties and no centuries in 29 innings played.

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For this reason, before the commencement of the Ashes 2025, former Australian cricketers have made bold statements, including Hayden, who had made the most audacious claim.

“I will walk n*de around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred this summer,” said Hayden during the All Over Bar The Cricket YouTube podcast.

After Root’s century, Hayden issued a video statement praising the batter, and took a sigh of relief.

“Good day, Joe. Congratulations, mate, on the hundred here in Australia. Took you a while, and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally,” said Hayden.

“I was backing you in for the hundred in a good way. So mate, congratulations 10, fifties and finally a 100. You little ripper, mate. Have a beauty and bloody enjoy it,” he added.

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Root’s elusive ton guides England to 325-9 against Australia

Joe Root finally scored his maiden Test century in Australia on his fourth Ashes tour to guide England from a precarious 5-2 to 325-9 at stumps after a pulsating first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.

Mitchell Starc became the most successful left-arm fast bowler in history as he claimed 6-71, but the opening sessions of the day-night contest were dominated by Root, who scored a masterful 135 not out.

Number 11 Jofra Archer thrilled the travelling army of fans as he smashed a career-best unbeaten 32 off 26 balls with two sixes to provide some late fireworks.

His unbroken 10th-wicket partnership of 61 with Root was a record for England at the Gabba.

The world’s top-ranked batter, Root, had failed to reach triple figures on three previous Ashes tours.

But the man who is second on the all-time run-scoring list behind only Sachin Tendulkar silenced the critics who said he couldn’t be considered a true batting great until he had made a century in Australia.

Coming to the crease in the third over at 5-2 with Starc swinging the new pink ball, he embarked on an epic knock, bringing up his century with a leg glance to the fine leg boundary off Scott Boland.

Starc’s six wickets moved him to 418 in Tests, surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram’s 414 as the most prolific left-arm paceman in Test history.

“Wasim’s still the pinnacle, I think he’s still better than me,” said Starc.

Starc again was the destroyer at the top of the order, removing Ben Duckett in his first over and Ollie Pope in his second to reduce a shell-shocked England to 5-2.

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But unlike in the first Test defeat in Perth, England showed some grit with the partnership between Root and Crawley moving the score onto 122.

Australia, who won the opening Test inside two days, went into this match without regular skipper Pat Cummins.

He had been rumoured to be making an early return from a back injury, but instead the hosts sprung a major surprise by leaving out off-spinner Nathan Lyon for seamer Michael Neser.

It was the first time in almost 14 years that Australia played a Test at home without a frontline spinner.

Duckett was first to go on the last ball of Starc’s first over, nicking a full ball to Marnus Labuschagne at first slip for a golden duck.

Pope then chopped on a wide delivery he could have left alone to leave England wobbling.

Crawley and Root survived an examination from the Australian attack and began to take advantage as the wicket flattened.

Root shared important partnerships with Harry Brook (31), Ben Stokes (19) and Will Jacks (19) as England played more conservatively than they had in the first Test.

Root brought up his half-century off 83 balls, shortly after England had reached 150.

Starc was the only Australian bowler who looked threatening, but Boland did produce the ball of the day — bowling Jamie Smith for a duck with a beautiful delivery which cut back from outside off stump.

England had slipped from 210-4 to 211-6 before off-spinner Jacks justified his inclusion to bolster the batting with some positive stroke play before an expansive drive to Starc brought his downfall.

England were 251-7, which quickly became 264-9 as Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse came and went to a rampant Starc under the lights.

Just when it looked like England would fold, Archer and Root went on the attack.

Pace bowler Archer hit two towering sixes, and Root joined the fun with a reverse scoop off Boland that cleared the ropes at third man.

READ: Joe Root ends Australian century wait in second Ashes Test

Joe Root ends Australian century wait in second Ashes Test

BRISBANE: England’s premier batter Joe Root finally ended his long wait for a Test century on Australian soil with a fighting hundred on day one of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba on Thursday.

Coming into the contest under heavy scrutiny after twin failures in Perth, where England were bundled out inside two days, the former captain delivered a statement knock under pressure.

He walked in with his side in early trouble at 5-2 after a hostile opening burst from Mitchell Starc and immediately shifted the momentum with a composed, authoritative display.

Root rebuilt the innings with a crucial 117-run stand alongside opener Zak Crawley, who contributed 76, before continuing the fight almost single-handedly as wickets fell regularly at the other end.

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The milestone moment arrived when Joe Root drove Scott Boland to the rope to bring up his 40th Test century, his first in Australia.

With that effort, the right-hander became only the fourth batter in history to reach the 40-century mark, joining an elite club featuring Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar.

He has now scored Test centuries in eight of the ten countries he has played in.

However, despite his brilliance, England’s lower order crumbled soon after the hundred, with two quick strikes leaving the centurion still standing in a lone battle.

As of this writing, England have scored 292-9, with Root (117) and Jofra Archer (17) at the crease.

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Confident Root questions pink-ball Ashes Test

England ace batter Joe Root on Sunday shared his thoughts on the necessity of pink-ball Tests in an Ashes series.

Root, who will be eyeing his first Test century in Australia in the second Ashes Test at Brisbane, admitted Australia’s strong record in pink-ball matches.

“It does add to things. It’s successful and popular here, and Australia have got a good record here as well. You can see why we’re playing one of those games,” he said.

Notably, Australia have won 13 of 14 matches under lights.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out it is going to be there. It’s part and parcel of making sure you’re ready for it,” he continued.

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“A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”

He also expressed confidence in getting a big score, stating that he is good enough to make runs in Australia.

“I know if I get time out there and I make good decisions for long periods of time, I’m going to be successful,” Root said.

“I know that I’m a good player, it’s just about putting that into the games out here,” the right-hander concluded.

In contrast to Root, Australia batter Travis Head downplayed the idea of not having a Pink-Ball Test and said it’s an incredible sight with big crowds coming in, and the team that emerges victorious does not have any problem.

“Pink ball, white ball, red ball – who really cares? Does it need it, does it not? It’s a great spectacle, and we’re going to have huge crowds again,” Head said.

“If you win, you think it’s great. If you lose, maybe not. Both teams may have differing opinions by the end of it. I think it’s great for the game,” the left-hander continued.

Travis Head stated about the different formats of international cricket, noting that the five-day game works the same way, just with a differently coloured ball and a unique atmosphere.

“We talk about T20, T10, and you see all these different formats. It still works the same way. It’s still five days, it’s just with a slightly different coloured ball and it brings a different atmosphere.”

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Root hits back at critics, eyes Ashes glory down under

England ace batter Joe Root has shut down the noise ahead of the 2025 Ashes in Australia, stating that his side is ready to ‘bring the urn home’.

England’s ace batter Joe Root has shut down the noise ahead of the 2025 Ashes in Australia, stating that his side is ready to “bring the urn home.”

Root has 39 Test hundreds to his name; however, the batting maestro is yet to score a ton in Australia. He has nine fifties and has a decent average of 35.68 in 14 Tests.

The Three Lions have not won the Ashes since 2015, and their last Test series victory in Australia dates back to 2010-11.

Speaking on the much-anticipated series, Root admitted to the Ashes drought and sees this time around as a great opportunity.

“It does feel like a long time, and it’d be nice to put that right and bring the urn home. I just see it as a great opportunity for the group,” Root said.

“There’s no other way to look at it, really. It’s a beautiful country, it’s a great place to go and play cricket.

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Joe Root has been under the spotlight from former Australian cricketers, who have highlighted his record in Australia, including Matthew Hayden, who has issued a bold statement.

Hayden had stated that he would “walk nude” around the Melbourne Cricket Ground this summer if Root does not scratch his Australian century itch.

“Just soak it all in and expect a little bit of ‘abuse’ or ‘banter’. It could be six weeks that live long in the memory if we get it right.” “At the end of the day this tour is not about me,” Root continued.

“They are going to say what they want to say anyway, so why bother worrying about it?

“When we look back in five years’ time no-one is going to remember what Matthew Hayden said to me, or Greg Blewett, or Mark Waugh, whoever it is,” Root remarked.

“If I am scoring runs and scoring heavily it gives us a great opportunity to win a series out in Australia and that is the main focus,” he concluded.

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Sachin Tendulkar breaks silence on Joe Root closing in on his all-time Test record

India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Monday shared his thoughts on England ace batter Joe Root nearing his all-time runs tally record in Test Cricket.

Tendulkar has amassed 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches in his legendary career spanning 24 years.

He called his time on his career in 2013 against the West Indies as the highest run scorer in Test cricket with 51 centuries and 68 fifties and since then, his record has remained intact.

England’s Joe Root, who recently broke the 13,000 runs barrier, is on the verge of surpassing Tendulkar’s tally and is now only second to the little master.

The 34-year-old Root, who is still 2,378 runs behind Tendulkar, is tipped by former cricketers to break the record, considering the number of test matches England plays each year.

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Now, Sachin Tendulkar has commented on Root’s run tally, recalling the talismanic batter’s debut, which was in 2012 against India.

Most runs in Test cricket

Sachin Tendulkar (India) — 15921
Joe Root (England) — 13543*
Ricky Ponting (Australia) — 13378
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) — 13289
Rahul Dravid (India) — 13288

“To have gone past 13000 runs is a remarkable achievement, and he’s still going strong,” said Tendulkar.

“When I saw him for the first time in Nagpur in 2012 during his debut Test, I told my teammates that they were watching the future captain of England,” he recalled.

Sachin Tendulkar further mentioned the adaptability of Root and his impact on the game, mentioning the first instance of playing in India.

What impressed me most was the way he was able to assess the wicket and how he rotated the strike. I knew at that very moment that he would be a big player,” he said.

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Joe Root responds to David Warner’s ‘surfboard’ remark ahead of the Ashes

England’s star batter Joe Root has responded to Former Australia opener David Warner ahead of the much-anticipated Ashes 2025-26, which is set to commence in November.

A few weeks ago, David Warner, currently playing in ‘The Hundred’ in England, highlighted flaws in Joe Root’s batting.

“The big anchor there is Rooty, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia. “Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg,” he said.

Joe Root has responded while speaking on a British News outlet, stating that he is unfazed by the remarks.

“Just that. I have no control over how people perceive the game or discuss it in an interview. Nothing new, is it? You know there are going to be storylines and people wanting to hype up a big series,” he said.

Does not really change anything. It is sort of irrelevant to me. What can I do about it? Just make sure it is not a talking point in six months or 100 days’ time,” he added.

He further stated about his calm demeanor and helping his team get a good start.

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“When you get out there, you have to got to try and impact the game and help your team get off to a good star,” Joe Root explained.

Business as usual as far as I am concerned. I guess it is all part of the fun. We will see what happens out there [with Warner at Lord’s during The Hundred, where they are playing for Trent Rockets and London Spirit respectively]. It is not really in my nature to get too verbal,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Joe Root, now the second-highest scorer in Test cricket, has yet to score a Test century in Australia.

Overall, England batting maestro Root has scored only 892 runs in Australia at a modest average of 35.68, which falls short of his standards.

Notably, since the start of 2022, he has notched up 15 centuries at a stellar average of 64.64.

The Ashes 2025-26 is set to begin in Perth on November 21, followed by a day-night match in Brisbane, the third Test in Adelaide, and the traditional Melbourne and Sydney Tests in December and January.

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