Former England captain Joe Root His long wait for a Test century on Australian soil finally ended by scoring a brilliant century on the first day of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. While the milestone was a huge boost for England, the most relieved reactions came not from his own dressing room, but from the Australian legend’s family. Matthew Hayden—Thanks to a bizarre pre-series wager that took the Internet by storm.
Matthew Hayden’s viral promise before the Ashes
In preparation for the series, Hayden made a playful but outrageous promise on a podcast. Highlighting Root’s unusual record – zero Test centuries in Australia despite more than 13,000 career runs – Hayden confidently declared: “If he doesn’t score a century this summer I’ll walk around the MCG naked.”
The comment immediately became a topic of global discussion, adding unexpected humor to the Ashes rivalry. Fans watched Root’s every innings with curiosity, wondering if Hayden’s bold move would take him to an unforgettable and unforgettable lap of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Even Hayden acknowledged the pressure and joked that he had more ‘skin’ in the game than anyone else.
Joe Root broke his streak of centuries in Australia
Starting with England under pressure, Root played a brilliant and composed innings. He played with authority, forming important partnerships and displaying the calmness that often eluded him in Australian conditions.
When he finally punched the ball through cover to bring up his 40th Test century – and his first in Australia – it sparked celebrations even outside the English camp. The century not only broke a strange statistical drought, but also brought immense relief to millions of people who had followed Hayden’s viral promise.
See also: Ashes 2025-26: Marnus Labuschagne hits hard to dismiss Jofra Archer on day two of Gabba Test
Grace Hayden’s priceless reaction after Root’s century
While the route was filled with thunderous applause, the internet immediately captured the reaction of the people grace haydenDaughter of Australian legend Hayden and a popular sports presenter. He had earlier requested Root online to score a century to save the public from the possibility of his father’s naked MCG run.
Moments after Root reached three figures, Grace posted her extremely relieved message on Instagram, which read: “Thank you Root, you saved our eyes.”
Matthew Hayden’s daughter’s Instagram story on Joe Root’s century. pic.twitter.com/OeCZLJk5N5
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 4 December 2025
The post quickly spread across social media, perfectly capturing the comedic tension at stake added to the series and offering a heartwarming moment of humor amidst the fierce rivalry.
See also: Photo Gallery: WAGS of England’s top cricketers in Ashes 2025-26
