Root ends debate with first ton Down Under

JOE Root’s maiden hundred Down Under left former England teammate Sir Alastair Cook purring: “Even Australia will have to admit he’s a great now.”

- By DAVID CHARLESWORTH

While he has amassed more than 13,000 Test runs - only India idol Sachin Tendulkar has more - Root’s lack of a three-figure score in any format in Australia was a major subplot ahead of this Ashes series.

He ended his barren run on the opening day of the second Ashes Test, surviving being dropped on two after England had lurched to five for two to post an unbeaten 135 in a stumps total of 325 for nine.