Joe Root Joins Elite Ranks with 41st Test Century in Ashes
Root Achieves Milestone in Sydney
On January 5, in Sydney, veteran England batter Joe Root reached a significant milestone by scoring his 41st Test century, placing him joint-third for the most Test hundreds in the history of international cricket, as reported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
This achievement came during the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Root matched the legendary Ricky Ponting's record.
Ponting, an Australian icon, accumulated 13,378 runs across 168 Test matches, boasting an impressive average of 51.85, along with 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries.
Root's century was achieved in 146 balls during England's first innings on Day 2 of the Test, marking his second hundred in the current Ashes series. He had previously scored a century in the pink-ball Test held in Brisbane. Since 2021, Root has recorded 24 Test centuries, the highest by any player in that timeframe.
In the prestigious list of Test century-makers, Root trails only behind South African great Jacques Kallis (45) and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar (51). Currently, Root is nearing the 14,000-run milestone in Test cricket, with a total of 13,777 runs from 162 matches and 296 innings, maintaining an impressive average of 50.83.
As of lunch on Day 2, England was in a strong position, having scored 336/6 in 78 overs. Root was unbeaten at 138 runs off 200 balls, including 14 boundaries, alongside Will Jacks, who was on 3 runs off 11 balls. Their partnership for the seventh wicket stood at 13 runs off 20 balls.
The second session commenced with Australian bowler Mitchell Starc breaking the substantial 169-run partnership for the fourth wicket by dismissing Brook, who scored 84 runs off 97 balls, featuring six fours and one six.
Later, Marnus Labuschagne of Australia ended the 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket by taking out Jamie Smith for 46 runs off 76 balls, which included six fours and one six. At lunch on Day 2, England's score was 336/6.
Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bat first. Day 1 saw only 45 overs bowled due to rain and poor light, which halted play after the third session.
The opening pair of Zak Crawley (16 runs off 29 balls with three fours) and Ben Duckett (27 runs off 24 balls with five boundaries) managed to put together a 35-run partnership for the first wicket.
Jacob Bethell was dismissed after scoring 10 runs off 23 balls, including two fours, before Root and Harry Brook stabilized the innings, helping England surpass the 100-run mark in the first session.
For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser each claimed one wicket during the first session.
The second session saw England take control, racing to 155/3 after 33 overs. Root reached his fifty in 65 balls, while Brook also achieved his half-century with a boundary against Beau Webster.
England crossed the 200-run threshold in the 42nd over, with Root and Brook forming a 150-run partnership for the fourth wicket, putting the visitors in a dominant position as they went into tea without losing a wicket in the second session, before rain and bad light washed out the third session on Day 1.