"I will walk nak*d.." Matthew Hayden makes bold bet on Joe Root's century in the Ashes 2025-26

Matthew Hayden believes that Joe Root will slam his first test century in Australia during the Ashes 2025-26.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has backed England batter Joe Root to score his first test century in Australia during the Ashes 2025-26 later this year. Root will be a crucial batter for England during the much-awaited test series.

With more than 13,500 runs, Root is the second-highest run-scorer in test cricket after Sachin Tendulkar. He has also slammed 39 centuries. However, the right-handed batter has not hammered a test century in Australia so far. Across 14 games in Australia, he has amassed 892 runs with nine half-centuries, including a top knock of 89 runs.

Notably, Root has smacked four test centuries against Australia, but all of them came in England. The 34-year-old has also not reached the three-figure mark in Australia in ODIs or T20Is. Hence, he will aim for his first century on Australian soil in international cricket during Ashes 2025-26.

I will walk nude around the MCG if Joe Root doesn’t make a hundred: Matthew Hayden

Australian batting legend Hayden strongly believes that Root will end his century drought in Australia during the Ashes 2025-26. Speaking on ‘All Over Bar the Cricket’ podcast on YouTube, Hayden made a bold bet that he will walk nude at Melbourne Cricket Ground if Root doesn’t score a ton during the Ashes later this year.

“I will walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred this summer,” he said.

Root has been in amazing form in test cricket since 2021. During the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, he overtook Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting to become the second highest run-scorer in test cricket. He also finished as the highest run-scorer for his team in the five-match series, smacking 537 runs at an average of 67.12.

Meanwhile, the Ashes 2025-26 will commence on November 21 with the opening game in Perth. The fifth and final test will be played from January 4-8, 2026 in Sydney. The Ashes 2025-26 will be England and Australia’s second test series in ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-27 cycle.

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