Root’s Long-Awaited Century: A Reward for Persistence

After 181 balls, Joe Root finally long the Australian drought with a knock of 135 on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test. He not only brought with him the 2,213 balls faced in Ashes cricket, but also the bitterness of 12 years since his first appearance at The Gabba.

In 2013, a 22-year-old Root entered The Gabba with little idea of how long it would take to break this very barrier. He was heralded as the brightest future of England, having made his debut as a star.

However, the reality was much more complicated. Root had long been treated harshly by Australia, and by 2025, he had not yet experienced the taste of Ashes victory in Australian soil or had not scored a century in the country.

His irony-laden celebration after reaching three figures spoke volumes. "What were you worried about?" he seemed to ask, as the weight of the expectations finally lifted off his shoulders. The milestone has come following years of emotional stress and self-pressure. It was not only over a century old, but it was a personal victory for Root as well as his teammates and the English cricket team in general.

Root’s Determination and Relentless Preparation

Root’s century was not only a technical triumph but also a testament to his resilience. Despite the immense pressure on him, he persisted, working tirelessly behind the scenes in the build-up to this series. "I had a clear plan and I stuck to it. There were still a couple of loose shots in there, as I tend to do, but I got away with them, and I played nicely down the ground as well," he said after his innings.

The innings of Root were so based as to have involved an entire day of unremitting practice at Lilac Hills. His colleagues facilitated him with keen concentration, and he was able to work with great output, as well as ensuring that the net bowlers were following him in his endless quest to achieve excellence.

Root also controlled his nerves, and despite some initial awkward movements, he showed the maturity that has marked his career. He had reached his hundred quietly and with determination once he did so.

Stokes and Archer’s Vital Contributions

While Root’s century was the centerpiece of England's Day 1 performance, his teammates played crucial roles in supporting him. Ben Stokes, who has seen Root’s struggles in Australia firsthand, shared an emotional moment as he watched his friend reach the milestone. "GO BALL!" shouted Stokes when Root’s 11th boundary raced to the boundary, a burst of emotion from the England captain, who has long been by Root’s side in the toughest moments.

Their journey together started in the 2013-14 Ashes, where both were maiden tourists and endured the heartbreak of a 5-0 whitewash. Since then, the two have been through the highs and lows of English cricket, and Stokes has felt every bit of Root's burden in Australia. “I’m chuffed for him,” Stokes said. “He hasn’t been speaking about it at all to us; that’s just the outside noise. He’s just very focused on just getting whatever score is needed on the day, and proved to be a hundred today.”

Archer contributed a crucial 32* in an unbroken 61-run partnership with Root, helping England recover from 264/9 to 325/9. The RootArcher alliance kept Australia at arm's length in the twilight and was left with a respectable total to operate with, the visitors.