‘You saved our eyes’ – Grace Hayden thanks Joe Root for scoring first hundred in Australia
Joe Root has finally scored his first century in Australia – and he might not be the most relieved person.
This is because Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden agreed to walk around the Melbourne Cricket Ground [MCG] naked if Root didn’t score a century during this Ashes.
And in the immediate aftermath of Root’s milestone, Hayden’s daughter, Grace, immediately took to Instagram to thank the England legend.
On her latest story, she said: “Root, thank you, you’ve saved all our eyes.”
Hayden’s daughter is a sports presenter in Australia and a content creator as well, with 562,000 Instagram followers.
Meanwhile, her dad echoed those sentiments on TNT Sports.
He said: “No one wanted to see that.
“There are two people who will be more relieved than anyone else: that’s my wife and my daughter.
“I was counting down the innings, and I was a bit nervous.”
This followed Hayden sending a congratulations message to Root.
He said: “G’day, Joe.
“Congratulations, mate on a hundred here in Australia.
“Took you a while, and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally.
“I was backing you for a hundred in a good way.
“So, mate congratulations. Ten fifties and finally a hundred, you little ripper, mate.”
Root saves everyone
One of the greatest sporting moments in Root’s career will forever be associated with potentially seeing Hayden streak around the MCG.
However, that shouldn’t detract from a wonderful innings that ended all doubts over Root.
His record in Australia had always been questioned, but after struggling in Perth, though everyone did, he answered any remaining critics.
Root came to the crease with England 5-2 after Mitchell Starc removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.
He and Zak Crawley put on a record session and an overall stand of 117.
Crawley fell and Harry Brook then swiped a Starc delivery to slip to write the Australian’s name into the history books.
Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith didn’t stick around for too long either.
But Will Jacks was there to help Root to his 100, which he managed off 181 deliveries.
It was also his 40th Test century, making him the fourth player to reach that number.
The shackles were somewhat off as Root started to cut loose, especially once Jofra Archer joined him at the crease.
The duo have put on 61 to take England to 325-9 at the close of play.
Root is on 135 and looks in the mood for even more before Australia get their turn to bat.
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