• Joe Root smashed an astonishing 41st century against Australia on Day 2 of the Pink Test in Sydney.

  • With this century Root equaled Ricky Ponting's hundreds in the red-ball cricket.

Ashes 2025-26: Fans go gaga as Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting with a magnificent 41st Test ton vs Australia on Day 2 of Sydney Test
Fans go gaga as Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting with a magnificent 41st Test century against Australia on Pink Test Day 2 (Image source: X)

Australia and England served up another absorbing chapter of Ashes theatre at the Sydney Cricket Ground as the fifth Test of the 2025-26 series rolled into a dramatic Day 2 under the pink-ball lights. On a surface offering just enough for the seamers but truer than earlier in the series, England rode a vintage Joe Root masterclass to post a formidable 384 in their first innings.​

Joe Root’s equals Ricky Ponting with his 41st Test century 

Root lit up the Pink Test with an astonishing 160, his second hundred of the series and his 41st in Test cricket, drawing level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting on the all-time centuries list. The landmark arrived in classic Root fashion when he punched Michael Neser down the ground for two to reach three figures off 146 balls, prompting a roar from the SCG crowd as he clenched his fist, raised his bat, and kissed the England badge in a moment that encapsulated his status as the heartbeat of this team.​

On a marquee Ashes stage and in the iconic Pink Test dedicated to the McGrath Foundation, Root’s innings felt like the centerpiece of the series narrative, especially given his long chase for centuries in Australia earlier in his career. Fans flooded social platforms hailing him and celebrating the symmetry of him matching Ponting’s tally in Ponting’s own backyard, underlining just how far Root has climbed in the pantheon of Test batting greats.​

Root arrived with England wobbling at 57/3 after a lively new-ball burst from Mitchell Starc, Neser and Scott Boland, but quickly imposed calm with his immaculate balance, soft hands and surgical strike rotation. His 154-run stand with Harry Brook for the fourth wicket transformed the innings; Brook’s counter-attacking 84 off 97 balls, laced with six fours and a six, released pressure and forced Australia’s attack onto defensive lines. Even as rain, bad light and multiple interruptions truncated Day 1 at 211/3, Root returned on Day 2 with renewed focus, moving from 72 overnight to 150 in 226 balls before eventually falling to a sharp return catch by Neser for 160, denied a maiden double ton in this series by a piece of individual brilliance.​

Also READ: Alastair Cook opens up on possibility of becoming England’s next head coach

Here’s how fans reacted:

England’s 384 puts Australia under early pressure

England’s total of 384 felt even bigger in context given how bowler-dominated this Ashes has been, and it was built around meaningful contributions through the order once Root and Brook had laid the platform. Jamie Smith added a crucial 46, riding his luck early before finding fluency, while Will Jacks’ patient 27 in a 50-run stand with Root for the seventh wicket helped push England beyond 350 and frustrate Australia’s hopes of a quick wrap-up.​

The innings flowed in clear phases: early turbulence at 51/2, consolidation to 114/3 by lunch on Day 1, then acceleration through the afternoon as the Root–Brook partnership surged England past 200 and eventually 226/4 before Brook’s dismissal. By the time lunch arrived on Day 2 at 336/6, with Root on 138 and the second new ball taken shortly after, Australia’s seamers were into their third and fourth spells and the pink ball had lost much of its bite, allowing Root to shepherd the tail and carry England to 384 in 97.3 overs.​

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Akash Thapa is a dedicated cricket journalist with three years of experience in the media industry. A BA (JMC) graduate from VIPS, GGSIPU, and a postgraduate in MAJMC from the University of Lucknow, Akash combines his academic credentials with a deep-rooted passion for cricket.His background as a former junior-level wrestler and cricketer enriches his insightful analysis and commentary on the game. Known for his inventive approach to writing and his commitment to capturing the nuances of cricket, Akash is a true aficionado of the sport.Connect with Akash on , , and .