Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden’s daughter expressed gratitude towards England star Joe Root for preventing her father from carrying out a promise to strip naked. Root achieved his first century in Australia at the Gabba, marking 12 years since his initial Ashes tour. Root’s unbeaten 135 from 202 balls not only held the team’s batting together but also saved Hayden from fulfilling a bet where he pledged to walk around the MCG naked if Root failed to score a century. Grace Hayden, a commentator, publicly thanked Root on Instagram, signaling relief over the situation.
Hayden, acknowledging the potential trouble he narrowly avoided with his family, admitted feeling nervous about the outcome. He congratulated Root on his century, emphasizing his personal investment in the achievement and expressing relief for his wife and daughter. Root’s former captain, Alastair Cook, praised Root’s performance, labeling him as one of England’s greatest batsmen ever. Cook highlighted Root’s ability to perform under pressure and noted his consistent improvement.