Joe Root Ends Long Australian Century Drought
Longtime England batter Joe Root ended the longest-debated milestone of his illustrious career in one swabbed on Thursday, as the first of his six Test hundred in Australian soil on the first day of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba. Although second-best run-scorer in Test cricket, Root had the stigma of not having made a hundred in Australia, a statistic that had begun to eclipse his otherwise excellent record so much.
At the start of the series, Root had already made 892 runs at an average of 35.68 in Australia, but the centuries had eluded him. Root has been on a tear since the last Ashes took place in Australia in 2022, 15 centuries and an average of 64.64 have seen debate and speculation over whether this is finally the tour where he is able to break the code.
Root was feeling the pressure after a poor beginning of the series, being sent home with seven balls in the first innings at Perth and having scored only eight off 11 in the second. Rather than cowering, he gave an acting lesson about resilience and technical accuracy. His 135 off 202 with 15 fours and a majestic six not only secured the innings of England but also gave the top order of the visitors a new word of faith.
With a competitive 325/9 at the stumps, England is doing well with the contribution of Root who will resume at the stumps with Jofra Archer who played a key supporting role with the score of 32 and non-out. The alliance put England on its feet following a wobbly midday session and prepared the visitors strongly to face Day 2.
It is the 40th Test cricket century of Root, the only management behind Ricky Ponting in number with 41 -third in the list of all-time centuries. He currently finds himself in a touching distance of becoming one of the greatest icons in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) are the only two who are even further ahead.
This much-anticipated landmark not only adds another feather into the cap of Root but also adds some fresh impetus to the Ashes campaign in England which may tip the psychological advantage of the visitors at a very critical point.
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