Root equaled Ponting (Photo: PTI)

Sydney Test, Joe Root Century: England's star batsman Joe Root has scored another hundred in the Test. He has scored a century in the last test of the current Ashes series being played in Sydney. Joe Root's century was completed in 146 balls in the first innings of the test match. This was the 41st century of his Test career. Joe Root's century in the 5th and last Test of the Ashes series is special for many other reasons as well. After scoring this century, he has also equaled the record of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

What did Joe Root do for the first time in Sydney?

On the first day of the Sydney Test, Joe Root remained unbeaten after scoring 72 runs in 103 balls. On the second day, he took his innings forward and scored a century. This was his first century scored in the Test played in Sydney. His second test century came from his bat in Australia. The amazing thing is that Joe Root has scored both his Test centuries in Australia in the current series only. Meaning, before this series, he did not have a single Test century in his name in Australia.

Joe Root's 2 centuries in Australia

Joe Root scored his first Test century in Australia in the Pink Ball Test, which was played in Brisbane from 4 December 2025. Now exactly 4 months later, he has scored his second century in a test played with red ball in Australia itself. Meaning, in red ball cricket, he has scored a century for the first time in Australia.

How did Root equal Ponting's record?

The century scored in Sydney was the 41st of Root's Test career. With this he has equaled Ricky Ponting's record of 41 Test centuries. Now only Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis are ahead of Root in terms of scoring centuries in Tests.

How many centuries has Joe Root scored in the last 6 years?

This is Joe Root's 24th Test century in the last 6 years. In the last two years, this has happened 11 times out of 17 when he has converted his half-century into a century in Tests. This is Joe Root's first century in the year 2026. Earlier in 2025, he had scored 4 Test centuries. Joe Root had scored 6 centuries in 2024. In 2023, he scored 2 Test centuries while in the year 2022, he scored 5 Test centuries. In the year 2021, Joe Root scored 6 centuries.

England strong with Root's century

The century scored in the first innings of the Sydney Test was not only an achievement for Root but also strengthened England's innings. It is the result of his century that the England team is on the front foot in the Sydney Test. In the play till lunch on the second day itself, he had scored 336 runs for 6 wickets.