Matthew Hayden reacts as Joe Root breaks Test century drought in Australia

BRISBANE: Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden congratulated England's batting stalwart Joe Root on breaking his Test century drought in Australia during the opening day of the second Ashes fixture here at The Gabba on Thursday.

Despite being the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, Root entered the blockbuster series with underwhelming numbers in Australia, having 892 runs to his name at an average of 35.68 with the help of 10 fifties and no centuries.

However, since 2022, when Australia last hosted the Ashes, the right-handed batter had scored 15 centuries at an average of 64.64.

Root's meteoric rise in Test cricket fuelled the buzz around his century drought in Australia ahead of the Ashes.

While a few former Australian cricketers took a dig at Root over his century drought in Australia in a build-up to this year's Ashes, legendary opening batter Hayden put all on the line, backing the 34-year-old to finally break the jinx this summer.

"I will walk n*de around the MCG if he doesn't make a hundred this summer," said Hayden during the All Over Bar The Cricket YouTube podcast last month.

Hayden's confidence in Root's abilities eventually turned out right as the right-handed batter registered his much-awaited century in the first innings of the ongoing pink-ball Test here.

He top-scored for the visitors with an unbeaten 135 off 202 deliveries, studded with 15 fours and a six, helping England finish the opening day on a high note at 325/9.

Minutes after Root amassed the milestone, England Cricket shared Hayden's video statement in which the former cricketer expressed his relief and congratulated the 34-year-old on the achievement.

Hayden claimed to have been "literally" invested in Root's century, stating that he was backing the batter in a positive way.

"Good day, Joe. Congratulations mate on the hundred here in Australia. Took you a while, and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally," said Hayden.

"I was backing you in for the hundred in a good way. So mate, congratulations 10, fifties and finally a 100. You little ripper, mate. Have a beauty and bloody enjoy it," he added.