Joe Root hit 138 runs against Australia Read the full report on how Root anchored the innings
Joe Root Breaks the Drought with a Majestic 138*
In the theatre of Test cricket, few challenges are as demanding as scoring an Ashes century on Australian soil. On December 4, 2025, during the second Test at the Gabba, Joe Root, arguably the greatest English batsman of his generation, finally conquered that particular Mount Everest. His magnificent, unbeaten knock of 138 single-handedly hauled England from the brink of disaster to a respectable first-innings total of 334, silencing critics and injecting vital belief into the touring side.
A Rescue Mission from 5 for 2
The innings was a masterpiece of crisis management and sustained class. England, reeling from an eight-wicket defeat in the series opener, suffered a nightmarish start to the Day/Night Test after electing to bat. Mitchell Starc, bowling with menacing venom, ripped through the top order, leaving the scoreboard a shocking 5 runs for 2 wickets. When Joe Root strode to the crease at number four, the weight of the Ashes series, his own struggles Down Under, and the daunting pink ball were all pressing down.
Root’s early moments were fraught with tension; he even survived a tough, diving chance off Starc’s bowling almost immediately. But that reprieve was the catalyst for a shift in mindset. Forsaking the ‘Bazball’ aggression, Root settled into an innings built on classic Test match patience, impeccable judgment, and supreme technical skill—a perfect riposte to the hostile Australian attack and the unforgiving conditions.
The Anchorman and the Key Partnerships
Root’s role became that of the immovable anchor. His first crucial partnership was a towering 117-run stand with opener Zac Crawley (76). While Crawley provided the necessary impetus with a brisk, counter-attacking fifty, Root offered solidity and control, ensuring the early collapse did not spiral into a rout. This partnership proved the foundation of England’s recovery.
As wickets continued to fall around him, Root displayed a stoic resolve. He shared a useful 54-run stand with Harry Brook (31), continuously milking the bowling and rotating the strike, making sure the pressure never fully transferred back to the batting side. Australia’s premier bowlers, including Starc, who finished with superb figures of 6/75, were relentlessly tested by Root’s defensive precision and his ability to punish any minor error in length or line.
Breaking the Hoodoo and the Last-Wicket Heroics
The most dramatic phase of the innings arrived when England was nine wickets down for 264. This was the moment Root finally ended a 15-Test, 30-innings drought for a Test century in Australia. Nearing the milestone in the day-night session, a phase known for its difficulty, he calmly flicked Scott Boland for a boundary down the leg-side to raise his bat for his 40th Test century overall. The celebration was one of quiet relief and profound satisfaction.
But the work was not done. Partnering with number eleven Jofra Archer (38 off 36 balls), Root unlocked a new level of aggression. The duo put on a bombastic, record-breaking 70-run stand for the 10th wicket, a partnership that spanned across Day 1 and Day 2. Root’s command was absolute, guiding Archer and farming the strike expertly, adding crucial runs that transformed the innings from respectable to highly competitive. This final, exhilarating blitz—where Root reached his final, unbeaten score of 138 off 206 balls—served as a psychological blow to the tired Australian bowlers, pushing the total to 334.
Joe Root hit 138 runs against Australia.
Root’s maiden Ashes century in Australia was more than just a personal milestone; it was a defiant statement. It was an exhibition of concentration, class, and temperament under immense pressure, providing England with a vital foothold in the Test match and proving that their former captain still possesses the sheer force of will to dominate the world’s most intense cricketing rivalry.
