Matthew Hayden has made a stunning and outrageous promise ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes series: if Joe Root fails to score a Test century in Australia, the Australian legend will walk around the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) naked!
Hayden’s Confidence in Root’s Century Drought
Hayden’s pledge has caught the attention of cricket fans worldwide, as it adds extra intrigue to the already highly anticipated Ashes series. Root, one of modern cricket’s finest Test batsmen, has yet to score a century on Australian soil, and Hayden is confident that the trend will continue.
Speaking on the All Over Bar the Cricket podcast, Hayden made the bold declaration: “I will walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred this summer.”
Root’s Impressive Form, but Ashes Century Still Elusive
While Root has been in phenomenal form, dominating records across the globe, his performance in Australia remains underwhelming when it comes to centuries. In the 61 Tests since 2021, Root has scored 5,720 runs at an average of 56.63, including 22 centuries and 17 fifties. His highest score during this period was an impressive 262.
However, in 14 Tests played in Australia, Root has scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68, with no century to his name. His best score Down Under is 89, and he has nine half-centuries in his Australian Test career.
Root’s Historic Records and Consistency
Root’s overall Test career, however, is a testament to his greatness. With 13,543 runs in 158 matches and 288 innings at an average of 51.29, he stands as the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history. Along the way, he’s smashed 39 centuries and 66 fifties. Root’s consistency across formats has solidified his place as one of the best of his generation.
England’s Quest for the Ashes
The upcoming Ashes series offers England a golden opportunity to reclaim the famous urn. It would be their first away Ashes victory since 2011 and their first overall since 2015. Under the leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, the team’s aggressive “Bazball” approach will face its toughest challenge yet in the fast-paced, bouncy conditions of Australia.
The five-match series kicks off in Perth on November 21, with all eyes on Root, Hayden’s bold promise, and the high stakes for both teams.
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