Joe Roots Century Relieves the Awkwardness for the Hayden Family

At The Gabba, in the second Test of the Ashes series, Joe Root’s brilliant unbeaten 135-run innings not only secured a win for England but also freed former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden from a peculiar ‘bet’. Before the series, Hayden had jokingly declared that if Root failed to score a century in Australia, he would run naked at the MCG.

Root’s century ended that promise, bringing relief to Hayden and his family. Hayden’s daughter and cricket presenter Grace Hayden expressed her amusement on social media following Root’s century. She wrote,
“Root, thank you. You saved all our eyes.”

In a follow-up video message, she added,
“For the first time in my life at the Ashes, I cheered for an English cricketer. And if Dad ever makes such a bet again, I will disown him!”

Matthew Hayden also congratulated Root, saying,
“There was no one else with as much ‘skin in the game’ as me… truly.”

Root’s performance was not just the result of a great innings on the field, but it also created a mix of humor and excitement among cricket fans.