AUS vs ENG: Joe Root Equals Ponting with 41st Test Century, Scripts Ashes History in Sydney

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Joe Root continues to strengthen his case as England's finest-ever Test batter, producing yet another landmark innings on Monday (January 5) during Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series.

Batting at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, Root registered his second Test hundred on Australian soil, a feat that once seemed elusive during the early years of his career.

The century was Root's first international hundred of the 2026 calendar year and the 41st of his Test career, a tally that now places him alongside former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on the all-time list.

Ponting accumulated his 41 centuries across 168 Tests between 1995 and 2012, while Root reached the same mark in his 163rd appearance for England since debuting against India in Nagpur in December 2012.

Currently occupying the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test batter rankings, Root showcased his trademark composure and control at the crease. He brought up his hundred off 146 deliveries, calmly running two runs from the opening ball of the 60th over, bowled by Michael Neser. The innings underlined his adaptability in challenging overseas conditions, particularly in Australia, where success had previously been hard to come by.

Remarkably, before this Ashes tour, Root had never scored an international century of any format in Australia. However, in the ongoing five-match series, he has already crossed the three-figure mark twice, becoming only the second batter after Australia's Travis Head to score multiple centuries in this Ashes contest.

Root's knock also carried significant historical value for England. With this innings, he moved past Herbert Sutcliffe to become England's fourth-highest run-scorer in Ashes history. Only Sir Jack Hobbs, David Gower and Wally Hammond now sit above him on that elite list.

In the broader context of Test cricket, Sachin Tendulkar remains the benchmark, having amassed a record 51 centuries across 200 matches for India. South Africa great Jacques Kallis follows with 45 hundreds from 166 Tests. As Root continues to add to his tally, his latest century in Sydney stands as another defining chapter in a career that has consistently delivered on the grandest stages.