England’s star batter Joe Root went viral on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba after he brought up a long-awaited century in Australia and celebrated in a way that instantly reminded fans of Babar Azam.
Joe Root, who had never scored a Test hundred in Australia before this match, finally reached the milestone with a fluent knock. But it was his celebration that stole the spotlight. After raising his bat, he took off his helmet, tilted his head slightly, and gave a signature shrug the same iconic pose Babar Azam displayed during his ODI century against Sri Lanka.
Within minutes, social media lit up.
Some fans joked that Root had “copied Babar.” Others viewed it as a respectful tribute to the Pakistani captain. Memes, side-by-side photos, and fan edits flooded X (Twitter), Instagram, and cricket forums.
Matthew Hayden’s Viral Bet
Adding more humor to the moment, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden had made a hilarious promise before the match claiming he would walk naked around the MCG if Root failed to score a century in the Ashes.
Luckily for Hayden, Root delivered.
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To celebrate, England Cricket posted a light-hearted video where Hayden congratulated Root, saying:
“There was no one with more skin in the game than me — literally.”
Hayden praised Root for finally converting after ten fifties in Australia, calling him a “little ripper.”
Root’s celebration, combined with Hayden’s wager, made the century one of the most talked-about cricket moments of the week.
