Australian legend Matthew Hayden must be the happies man alive as he has saved from an embarrassing situation of walking naked around the MCG. And the man who saved him from going streaking is Joe Root, who Hayden placed his bet on.
Root lit up Brisbane by cracking his first Test century in Australia. Root reached the triple-figure mark on Thursday, December 4, during the first day's play of the ongoing second Ashes Test against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane. Playing in his 16th Test match on Australian soil, the veteran English batter finally broke the drought, reaching his century off 181 balls.
Matthew Hayden saved from walking naked in Melbourne
Root’s long-awaited century in the pink-ball Test brings a notable sense of relief to Hayden. In the highly publicised build-up to the series, the outspoken former Australian player had made a dramatic promise, stating he would 'walk nude in Melbourne' if Root failed to register a Test century in Australia during the current series. With the captain now having achieved the feat, Hayden can safely avoid fulfilling that controversial wager.
“He’s just the most complete package in the England side, I can’t believe you haven’t got Joe Root in your team. He averages 40, bud, high score of 180, and I’ll talk to you at the end of this summer. I’ll walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t get a hundred this summer," Hayden had said during All Over Bar the Cricket podcast in September 2025.
Hayden thanks Joe Root for rescuing him from going streaking
Following Root's 40th Test century, and his crucial first in Australia, England Cricket shared a video featuring Matthew Hayden offering his congratulations to the batter. T
“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, 10 fifties and finally a hundred. You little ripper mate. Have a beauty and bloody enjoy it," Hayden was heard saying in the clip.
his century proved pivotal for the visiting side, as it not only rescued England from a precarious position but also placed them in good stead. The team had suffered a disastrous start, collapsing to 5/2 after just 2.3 overs. However, Root's dominant performance anchored the innings, allowing England to finish Day 1's play at a respectable 325/9. The world No. 1 Test batter remains unbeaten at the crease, and he will return to bat on Day 2 alongside Jofra Archer. The pair will aim to add as many runs as possible to England's total to further strengthen their grip on the ongoing pink-ball Test match.