English batting maestro Joe Root began the new cricketing year in spectacular fashion, notching up a magnificent century on the second day of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This landmark knock was not just another hundred; it was a historic innings that propelled him into an elite bracket of cricketing legends.
A Decade-Long Wait Ends in Sydney
Resuming his innings on Monday from an overnight score of 72, Root displayed sublime touch and composure to reach his century in just 146 deliveries. This hundred was particularly special as it ended his long wait for a red-ball century on Australian soil. Before the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series, Root had played 14 Test matches in Australia without a single three-figure score. He broke that drought last month with a ton at the Gabba and has now added a second, proving his mastery in challenging conditions.
Joining the Pantheon of Greats
Root's century at the SCG was laden with milestones. Most significantly, it was his 41st century in Test cricket, a feat that draws him level with Australian icon Ricky Ponting. The only batters now ahead of him are South Africa's Jacques Kallis (45) and the legendary Indian Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the all-time list with 51 Test hundreds.
Furthermore, this century was Root's 60th international hundred across all formats, making him only the sixth player in history to achieve this landmark. Among active cricketers, only India's Virat Kohli, with 84 international centuries, is ahead of him.
Root's Statistical Ascent
The innings also saw Root accelerate past 150, marking his 17th career score of 150 or more in Tests. This places him fourth on the all-time list, behind only Tendulkar (20), Brian Lara (19), and Kumar Sangakkara (19).
Perhaps the most tantalising statistic for the future is his proximity to Sachin Tendulkar's monumental Test runs record. Root has now narrowed the gap to under 2,000 runs. While Tendulkar amassed 15,921 runs, Root is swiftly closing in on 14,000 runs, boasting a stellar average of 51.39 after 502 innings.
Despite wickets falling regularly at the other end, including those of Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Jamie Smith, Root's focus never wavered. He batted through the morning session and past lunch, anchoring the English innings with a display of classic batting that mixed patience with elegant stroke-play.
This innings in Sydney solidifies Joe Root's position as one of the modern greats and sets the stage for a thrilling pursuit of one of cricket's most revered records held by Sachin Tendulkar. The cricketing world will now watch with keen interest as Root continues his quest to scale the peak of Test run-scoring.
