NEW DELHI: After waiting a dozen years and 15 Test matches, England star batter Joe Root finally scored his first hundred in Australia during the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane. Not only did Root end his long drought, but he also fulfilled the expectation of Matthew Hayden, saving the former Aussie opener from public embarrassment.

Before the Ashes, Hayden had made a bizarre statement, saying he would walk around the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) naked if Root failed to score a century in the five-match series. Root needed just three innings to make Hayden's remark come true.

The top-ranked Test batter Root finished unbeaten on 138 after Engand were dismissed for 334 on Friday in the third over on Day 2.

After Root reached his century, Hayden was quick to congratulate him, even celebrating with an enthusiastic reaction. On Day 3, before play began, Root responded to the former Aussie star's praise, saying it felt great to receive such kind words from a cricketing legend.

"Actually, it's really nice of him to give me the confidence and backing in the first place. But yeah, kind of him to send those words and obviously an Australian great and he's done special things in the game," said Root.

"So obviously, nice to get that from him, but yeah, as well, to the Australian public that they don't have to witness that. And his family, I think, they'll be quite happy too," he added.

'More skin in the game'

After Root notched up his century on the opening day at the Gabba, Hayden quipped that no one had "more skin in the game" than he did, before congratulating the former England skipper on finally securing a long-awaited hundred on Australian soil.

"Congratulations mate on a hundred here in Australia. Took you a while, and there was no one who had more skin in the game than me. Literally, I was backing you for a hundred in a good way. Congratulations, ten fifties and a finally a hundred. You little ripper mate. Have a beauty and bloody enjoy it," said Hayden.

Hayden's daughter Grace also reacts

Grace Hayden posted an Instagram story shortly after Root reached the milestone, captioning the video with the words: "Root thank you. You've saved all our eyes."