England’s leading batsman Joe Root finally ended his long wait for a Test century on Australian soil by scoring a brilliant century on the first day of the second Ashes 2025-26 Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Root achieved the historic feat, bringing up his 40th Test century in 181 balls – but incredibly, his first century in 30 innings in Australia, despite scoring 10 fifties and a best score of 89 before that.
The milestone sparked a wave of emotion across the field and on social media, with England fans celebrating the moment they had waited almost a decade to see.
With England underway at 5/2, Joe Root masters the rescue task
Root came into a situation of high pressure after Mitchell Starc dismissed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the same over, leaving England at 5 for 2. What happened next was a masterclass in patience, footwork and game awareness.
The 34-year-old led the innings with Zak Crawley and stitched a crucial century partnership that halted Australia’s momentum under the pink ball. When wickets kept falling at the other end against the pace trio of Starc, Scott Boland and Michael Neser, Root held England together, and guided them towards a competitive total in difficult twilight conditions.
His innings, studded with 11 fours, displayed impeccable control against the seam, swing and bounce. It was the kind of composed, high-quality innings that has defined his career – and which England desperately needed.
Fans, former players celebrate Root’s “career-ending” moment
Root’s century immediately became one of the key moments of the series. Within minutes, social media was flooded with celebratory messages, tributes and emotional reactions from supporters who were thrilled to see him overcome a major hurdle in what was otherwise a glittering Test career.
Many fans called it “the Ashes moment”, while others dubbed Root “England’s greatest modern batsman” – a title strengthened by another big occasion performance.
Former Australian opener Matthew Haydenwho jokingly vowed that he would run around the MCG naked if Root failed to score a Test century on this tour, even sent a heartfelt congratulatory message. Hayden admitted this with humor. “Nobody had more skin in the game than him.” When it came to Root scoring the long-awaited century.
Root’s career in Australia so far has been full of fluent fifties but has been barren in centuries. This century not only fills the biggest gap in his Ashes record, but also cements his place among the great overseas performers of the modern game.
Here are the reactions to Root’s brilliant century:
Finally he did it!
which is the first of the root #ash Century in Australia.
Live Blog: https://t.co/2htO3lMX8d pic.twitter.com/9uZ26zQnPp
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 4 December 2025
He did it!
First no doubt. No doubt now.
A true great of the game 🙌 pic.twitter.com/TpZex7RpaL
– England Cricket (@englandcricket) 4 December 2025
Joe Root’s international centuries in each country
34 in England (248 innings)
7 in West Indies (30 innings)
5 in New Zealand (36 innings)
4 in Sri Lanka (22 innings)
3 in South Africa (24 innings)
3 (57 inns) in India
2 in Pakistan (13 innings)
1*In Australia (47 innings)
0 (12 inns) in UAE
In 0… pic.twitter.com/VB0xLEQIVC– All Cricket Records (@Cric_records45) 4 December 2025
Joe Root scored his maiden Ashes century while the rest of England’s batsmen disappeared faster than their shot selection.#jroot#ash pic.twitter.com/0oNbOmmEcO
– MukeshAswin🌟 (@mukeshaswin7) 4 December 2025
Joe Root is a beautiful island of genius in the sea of my sporting failures this year. What a player, what patience 🏏
– Callum Hennessy (@Callelujah) 4 December 2025
Joe Root scored a brilliant century and achieved number 40 in his Test career.
In his 30th Test innings, Joe Root reached three figures for the first time on Australian soil pic.twitter.com/Id2sWY1Jdr– jkliamba (@jkliamba9) 4 December 2025
Fab 4 Test Centuries:
Joe Root- 40*.
Steven Smith – 36.
Kane Williamson- 33.
Virat Kohli – 30 (Retired). pic.twitter.com/AnXtjI90LN
– Kanak Kumari (@KanakKu64995524) 4 December 2025
Matthew Hayden scored Joe Root’s first century in Australia. pic.twitter.com/qJJ5LVLyMD
– Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) 4 December 2025
Joe Root is pure class. I don’t understand why the rest of the team keeps playing crazy shots off Starc. Just look at his overs.
– John Colling (@JC_1987) 4 December 2025
Feeling cold! Joe Root’s icy “hundred” celebration after that masterclass innings in the Ashes 🥶🔥
Who has the courage to bowl next to this man? England on top! #Ashes2025 #jroot #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/k8O7qp8DzF
– Adarsh (@Adarshkumar_05) 4 December 2025
Joe Root 🐐 pic.twitter.com/xSl8C2ftOf
– Cold Cricket Pictures (@ColdCricketPix) 4 December 2025
It was just a matter of time. He is such a good player that he could not score a century in Australia.
Joe Root is special as he continues to perform well in the toughest format of the game #ash
– Parth MN (@parthpunter) 4 December 2025
