'A GREAT INNINGS ENDS ANY DEBATE'

JOE ROOT'S maiden hundred Down Under left former England team-mate Sir Alastair Cook purring: "Even Australia will have to admit he's a great now."

- RORY DOLLARD

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 5-2 to post an unbeaten 135 as the tourists reached stumps at 325-9.

Former Australia batter and head coach Darren Lehmann was among those to claim the absence of a century in Australia was a barrier to Root being an "all-time great", but the 34-year-old has now done so in his 16th Test and 30th innings in the country.