Joe Root makes pink-ball Test history and matches England legend’s record

Dec 5, 2025 - 08:45

Joe Root’s maiden Test century in Australia saw him make pink-ball history and match an England legend’s record.

On day one, the Yorkshireman emphatically answered the final question mark hanging over his head.

England's Joe Root celebrates after reaching his century on day one of the second Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on — Despite finally managing a century, Root was very reserved in his celebration

It took 30 innings Down Under, but Root has now scored a century in every country he’s played in.

And he put England in a good position in the second Ashes Test at The Gabba with the tourists making 334 in their first innings.

Root ended up on 138 not out, making him the highest scoring visiting Test player for a pink-ball game in Australia.

It also saw him match Sir Ian Botham’s 138 from the first innings at The Gabba in the 1986-87 series.

Sir Alastair Cook has the highest score at this ground for an Englishman with a double tonne, but that came in the second innings.

Therefore, Root has the honour of sharing the joint-highest first innings score for a visitor at The Gabba with Botham.

It was a magnificent innings from England’s greatest Test batter, and David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd was blown away by it.

Speaking on White and Jordan, he said: “Joe Root has been sublime.

“He’s had 30 attempts at trying to get a century, and now, he has a century in every country – it shows that he’s a great player.

“That was difficult. It was hard, and he was losing wickets all around him to some daft shots, but he showed what class is and how to play a Test match innings.

“That is how you play a Test match innings, and then, he’s had a little bit of fun with Archer at the end.

“So, he can change gear, but he’s played responsibly.”

Meanwhile, his father, Matt, believes that the century means more to others than his son.

Speaking to Australian broadcaster 7Cricket, he said: “I think it meant a more to a lot of other people than it did to Joe.

“It was just another day at the office for him.”

Joe Root celebrates his first century in Australia on day one in the second Ashes Test at The Gabba — There was just a shrug when Root claimed his century before going on to make history

Joe Root takes the acclaim after his 138 not out at The Gabba in the second Ashes Test — Root has continued to defy the odds as his career has progressed

England’s bowlers don’t take advantage

The pressure on Australia should have been immense, especially given teams who score more than 260 in the first innings in the pink-ball Test Down Under, usually win.

But with Travis Head opening alongside Jake Weatherald, the hosts managed to get off to a flier.

Head was dropped on 3 by Jamie Smith before slicing one into the air and being caught by Gus Atkinson from Brydon Carse’s bowling.

A 69-run partnership between Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne then brought the hosts further back into this contest before both were dismissed to leave the Aussies at 196-3 at the time of writing.

However, the twilight and night-time period of this Test match are approaching.

Ben Stokes and co will hope that will prove to be the turning point, and they can take a first-innings lead into the second innings.

England are 1-0 down in the series after a shocking collapse in the first Test to lose inside two days.