Root’s First Ton in Australia Lights Up the Ashes
So, let me walk you through what’s been unfolding in the Ashes right now, because it has been quite a moment — especially for England fans. Joe Root has finally registered his maiden Test century on Australian soil, and it couldn’t have come at a more dramatic stage of the series. This is happening during the second Test of the 2025–26 Ashes at the Gabba, a day-night clash that already carried a heavy sense of expectation.
If you know anything about the Gabba, you’ll know it’s a ground where Australia almost always sets the tone. Their pink-ball dominance is almost a tradition now, and heading into this Test, a lot of talk was focused on whether they’d extend that winning streak. And of course, after taking the first Test by eight wickets, they arrived in Brisbane full of confidence, backed by a squad that blends experience with some fiery quicks.
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England, on the other hand, came into this match with something to prove. The defeat in Perth was still hanging over them, and the conversation leading up to Brisbane was all about whether they could reset. Ben Stokes, as always, looked ready for the fight, but what England really needed was someone to step up and steady the innings — and this is exactly where Root’s century has changed the energy of the series.
The moment was built slowly, patiently, and under the lights, which is never easy with the pink ball swinging and seaming like it’s got a mind of its own. But Root held firm. Every shot seemed to carry that perfect blend of control and calm, as if the pressure around him didn’t exist. When he finally got to the milestone, it wasn’t just a personal achievement — it felt like a spark for England’s entire campaign.
Meanwhile, Australia hasn’t held back. Their lineup for this Test is stacked: Mitchell Starc with the new ball, Nathan Lyon bringing the experience, Cameron Green offering that all-round balance, and Steve Smith leading the group. They’ve been relentless, applying pressure from both ends and making England fight for every run.
But that’s what makes Root’s hundred so significant. It wasn’t handed to him. It was earned on a pitch that rarely gives visiting batters any comfort, and in conditions where the pink ball behaves like it’s performing tricks for the crowd.
With the series heading towards its middle stretch — Adelaide next, then Melbourne and Sydney — this innings could end up being one of those turning points we look back on. For now, though, it’s simply a memorable moment in a Test that’s still very much alive, and one that’s added a new layer of intrigue to this Ashes battle.
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