Former England captain Joe root Finally, wait for a Test century on AUSTERNIAN soil, producing a superb hundred on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at Gabab. While the milestone was the biggest boost for England, the most comforting reactions came not from his own dressing room, but from the Australian legend’s family Matthew HaydenThanks to a strange series of bets that took the Internet by storm.
Matthew Hayden’s viral pledge before the ashes
In the build-up to the series, Hayden made a playful but outrageous promise with a podcast. Despite ROT’s extraordinary record of zero Test centuries in Australia, over 13,000 career runs, Hayden confidently declared: “If it doesn’t get a hundred this summer, I’ll be walking around naked.”
The comment instantly became a global talking point, adding unexpected humor to the Ashes rivalry. Fans watched every innings with their roots growing, wondering if Hayden’s bold bet would force him into the unforgettable and unstoppable embrace of the secretive Melbourne cricket ground. Hayden acknowledged the pressure, joking that he had more ‘skin’ in the ‘game’ than anyone else.
Joe Rour breaks the century in Australia
With England under pressure early on, the fat master stitched the composed innings together. He played with authority, formed vital partnerships and showed the composure that often deserts him in Australian conditions.
He eventually hit his 40th Test century and Australia’s first with a ball through cover that led them to celebrate outside the English camp. Not only did it break a strange statistical drought of the century, but it also brought massive relief to the millions who followed Hayden’s viral promise.
Priceless reaction after Grace Hayden’s Root Century
The carrot, soaked in applause, quickly reacted to the internet Grace HaydenDaughter of Aussie legend Hayden and a popular sports presenter. Root had earlier prepared to hit a century online to rid the public of the possibility of his father’s Naked MCG run.
Moments after reaching prime numbers, Grace posted a cheerful message of relief on Instagram that read: “Thank you very much, you saved all our eyes.”
Matthew Hayden’s daughter’s daughter’s Instagram story is one hundred percent of Joe Root. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/oeczljk5n5
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 4, 2025
The post immediately blew up on social media, perfectly capturing the comedic tension of the bet and providing an added and heartwarming moment of humor in the series amid the fierce competition.
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