If the 2025/26 Ashes series proves to be Joe Root's final tour of Australia, the English batting maestro is signing off in spectacular style. Long criticised for his record down under, Root has emphatically silenced his doubters this summer, leaving with every box ticked except the elusive away series victory.
A Redemption Complete at the SCG
Root brought up his second century of the series on day two of the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, playing Michael Neser down the ground for two runs. His celebration—a familiar, nonchalant shrug to the crowd—mirrored the one he produced after his breakthrough first ton in Australia during the day-night Test at the Gabba. This gesture has become symbolic of a burden lifted.
Before this campaign, Root carried a heavy weight of expectation. He had failed to score a century in his first 29 innings in Australia and was winless in 17 Tests on these shores. The physical toll was also evident; he was hospitalised with dehydration during the 2017/18 Sydney Test and required scans after a painful blow in the nets ahead of the 2021 Adelaide match.
Joining the Pantheon of Greats
This SCG century was monumental, marking the 41st of his Test career. That figure draws him level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting as the third-most prolific centurion in the history of the format. Only the greats Jacques Kallis (45) and Sachin Tendulkar (51) now stand ahead of him.
Channel 7 commentator Alison Mitchell hailed him as "the master of his craft" upon reaching the milestone. "A second hundred on Australian soil for England’s Grand Master. And it’s hundred number 41 as well. He goes level with the great Ricky Ponting," Mitchell said.
Root's dominance since the Covid-19 pandemic is staggering. His 24 Test centuries since the shutdown are double the next-best batter, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, who has 12.
A Tour of Firsts and Lasting Legacy
Beyond personal milestones, Root finally experienced a Test match win in Australia on his 18th attempt, playing a key role in England's four-wicket victory at the MCG. That win broke a drought for England that had spanned more than 14 years.
While the ultimate prize—an away Ashes series win—slipped away when Australia retained the urn inside 11 days in the third Test, this summer stands as Root's finest tour of Australia. It remains to be seen if he will still be playing for the 2029-30 series, when he would be 39, and potentially challenging Tendulkar's run-scoring record.
If this is his farewell, however, Joe Root leaves Australian shores not with a shrug of frustration, but with the satisfied gesture of a champion who has finally conquered his final frontier.
