Joe Root has finally notched up a red-ball hundred in Australia, ending over a decade-long wait for a century in Test cricket’s oldest version during the fifth Ashes 2025-26 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Resuming from his overnight score of 72, Root nonchalantly cantered to his 41st Test century in only 146 deliveries on day two morning, marking his second century of the tour Down Under after having notched up his maiden Test ton in the country in the Pink-Ball Test at the Gabba last month. The 34-year-old had never reached the three-figure mark in 14 Test matches held in Australia before the current series. Root equals Ponting Joe Root brings up his second Test century in Australia 👏#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/bXwBXY7nw0 — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026 The Englishman marked the first international Test ton of 2026, a milestone that saw him draw level with Australia legend Ricky Ponting at 41 Test centuries, the third-most in the format, only behind Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45). Root also notched up a colossal figure with his 60th international century, making him only the sixth batter in history to reach the landmark across formats. Root’s tally is also the second-highest among active cricketers, with only India superstar Virat Kohli ahead of him with 84 centuries across formats in 623 innings. .infographic{font-family:”Roboto”,sans-serif;background:#fff;margin-bottom:25px;padding:0;max-width:640px;min-width:640px;} .infographic__header{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#c0392b 0%,#8b0000 100%);padding:20px;text-align:center;} .infographic__title{color:#fff;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin:0;line-height:1.4;opacity:1;} .infographic__subtitle{color:#fff;font-size:13px;margin-top:8px;opacity:0.95;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__hero{background:#2c3e50;padding:25px 20px;text-align:center;} .infographic__hero-name{color:#c0392b;font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;opacity:1;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__hero-match{color:#ecf0f1;font-size:13px;margin-bottom:15px;opacity:1;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__hero-badges{display:flex;justify-content:center;gap:15px;flex-wrap:wrap;} .infographic__hero-badge{background:#c0392b;color:#fff;padding:10px 15px;border-radius:6px;font-size:12px;font-weight:700;opacity:1;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__milestones{padding:20px;background:#f8f9fa;} .infographic__milestones-title{font-size:15px;font-weight:700;color:#2c3e50;text-align:center;margin-bottom:15px;opacity:1;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__milestones-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:12px;} .infographic__milestone-card{background:#fff;padding:16px;border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-left:4px solid;} .infographic__milestone-card–major{border-color:#c0392b;} .infographic__milestone-card–historic{border-color:#e67e22;} .infographic__milestone-card–pursuit{border-color:#27ae60;} .infographic__milestone-icon{font-size:24px;margin-bottom:8px;} .infographic__milestone-number{font-size:36px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin-bottom:6px;} .infographic__milestone-card–major .infographic__milestone-number{color:#c0392b;} .infographic__milestone-card–historic .infographic__milestone-number{color:#e67e22;} .infographic__milestone-card–pursuit .infographic__milestone-number{color:#27ae60;} .infographic__milestone-label{font-size:11px;color:#555;opacity:1;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__comparisons{padding:20px;background:#fff;} .infographic__comparisons-title{font-size:15px;font-weight:700;color:#2c3e50;text-align:center;margin-bottom:15px;opacity:1;line-height:1.4;} .infographic__comparisons-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:12px;} .infographic__comparison-item{background:#f8f9fa;padding:12px;border-radius:6px;text-align:center;} .infographic__comparison-rank{font-size:11px;color:#c0392b;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;opacity:1;line-height:1.3;} .infographic__comparison-number{font-size:22px;font-weight:700;color:#2c3e50;line-height:1;margin-bottom:4px;} .infographic__comparison-label{font-size:10px;color:#7f8c8d;opacity:1;line-height:1.3;} .infographic__branding{background:#3C4557;color:#fff;padding:12px 20px;text-align:center;font-size:13px;opacity:1;} @media (max-width:480px){ .infographic{min-width:auto;max-width:480px;} .infographic__title{font-size:16px;} .infographic__hero-name{font-size:20px;} .infographic__hero-badges{gap:10px;} .infographic__hero-badge{font-size:11px;padding:8px 12px;} .infographic__milestones-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:10px;} .infographic__milestone-number{font-size:32px;} .infographic__comparisons-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:10px;} .infographic__comparison-number{font-size:20px;} } Joe Root’s Historic Sydney Innings 5 Major Milestones in One Century | 5th Ashes Test, SCG 2026 JOE ROOT England | 146 Deliveries | Sydney Cricket Ground 41st Test Century 60th International Hundred First Test Century of 2026 5 Milestones Achieved 👑 41 Test centuries – Equals Ricky Ponting (3rd most ever behind Tendulkar 51, Kallis 45) 🌍 60 International centuries – 6th batter ever across formats (2nd among active after Kohli’s 84) 💯 17 Career 150+ scores – 4th highest ever (behind Tendulkar 20, Lara 19, Sangakkara 19) 🇦🇺 1st Red-ball century in Australia – Ended decade-long wait after 14 Tests without a ton 🎯 14,000 Test runs approached – Under 2,000 away from Tendulkar’s 15,921 record Root’s Statistical Position 3RD ALL-TIME 41 Test Centuries 6TH ALL-TIME 60 International 100s 502 INNINGS 51.39 Test Average CHASING 1,921 Runs to Tendulkar Indian Express InfoGenIE Most international centuries Sachin Tendulkar – 100 in 782 innings Virat Kohli – 84 in 623 innings Ricky Ponting – 71 in 668 innings Kumar Sangakkara – 63 in 666 innings Jacques Kallis – 62 in 617 innings Joe Root – 60* in 502 innings Despite watching Harry Brook (84), Ben Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) fall at the other end, Root carried on past lunch on the second day and notched up his 17th career 150-plus score in Test cricket, making it the fourth-highest ever on the charts, led by Tendulkar (20). Most 150+ scores in Tests Sachin Tendulkar – 20 Brian Lara – 19 Kumar Sangakkara – 19 Don Bradman – 18 Joe Root – 17* Root, who has been touted to break Tendulkar’s epochal record Test runs tally has now narrowed the gap with the India batting legend to under 2,000 runs in the format. While Tendulkar notched up 15,921 runs in 329 innings during his 24-year career, Root is closing in on 14,000 runs with an average of 51.39.
STATS: Joe Root narrows Sachin Tendulkar’s lead to under 2000 runs, equals Ricky Ponting with 41st Test century in Sydney
