Key Highlights
- Root slammed a composed hundred on the opening day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday to end his long wait for a ton on Australian soil. Root remained unbeaten on 138 from 206 balls as England could add only nine runs to their overnight score and were bowled out for 334 early on the second day at the Gabba.
- The effort from the former England captain was enough for him to silence his critics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD‘Not bad Root after all’HE'S FINALLY DONE IT!Joe Root has his first #Ashes century in Australia. Live blog: cricket. com. au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2025More from First Cricket Shafali Verma Exclusive: ‘I cried for two nights before final’ — star batter on shock call-up, self-belief and a World Cup rebirth Ravi Shastri warns BCCI to not 'mess' with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: 'Agar unka dimaag...'The West Australian newspaper had jumped on to Root’s failures in the opening Test and called him names.
- The second-highest scorer in the history of Test cricket was primed to end his century jinx in Australia on this tour but got out cheaply in both the innings of England's stunning defeat inside two days in the series opener. The West Australian had termed the former England captain “average Joe” and called him “dud Root down under”.
- His average of just 36 Down Under compared to his overall Test average of over 50 was pointed out by the newspaper to call him a “hero in the homeland and pretender in Australia”. Quick ReadsView All'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new reportPCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversyThe fact that he could not score a ton in Australia in 15 Test matches, was always used by his critics to show chinks in his otherwise glittering career in the traditional form of the game. However, on Thursday, Root zipped the mouths of all his critics with an innings that has the potential to spark a comeback for the visitors in the ongoing Ashes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe West Australian too conceded “Average Joe finally scores big in Australia.” “He is not a bad Root after all,” their headline read.
- The paper went even further and said that his ability to perform in this Ashes was “never doubted by anyone”. TagsCricket Cricket Live scoreHomeFirst CricketJoe Root not 'dud' anymore: Aussie media makes U-turn after England star smashes maiden ton Down UnderEnd of Article Read MoreFind us on YouTubeSubscribeHomeFirst CricketJoe Root not 'dud' anymore: Aussie media makes U-turn after England star smashes maiden ton Down UnderEnd of ArticleQuick Reads'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new reportJasprit Bumrah was rested for fifth Test against England at The Oval Workload management was believed to be the reason behind Bumrah's absence The pacer, however, reportedly has a knee injury, a BCCI official claimed in a report. More Quick ReadsTop StoriesPutin India Visit LIVE Updates: PM Modi arrives at Rashtrapati Bhawan ahead of Putin’s ceremonial receptionBeyond defence & oil, PM Modi & Putin build ‘co-production model’ as future of economic tiesHyderabad House: The storied history of royal pa.
