Joe Root has waited a long time to tick off one particular item on his bucket list -- a Test century in Australia. More than a decade, in fact. But on Thursday at the Gabba, under lights in the second Ashes Test – a pink-ball one, the world's top-ranked Test batter finally ended a 15-Test drought that had stretched all the way back to 2013.

Root, who has piled up runs almost everywhere else with sparkling consistency, had somehow never crossed three figures in Australia despite this being his fourth Ashes tour. His previous best was 89; his most recent contribution in Perth last week was a rather un-Root like pair of 0 and 8. Australia, as they tend to do, had been a recurring spoiler.

But no one was more relieved at Root's overdue ton than former Australia opener Matthew Hayden, and for reasons that had very little to do with cricketing aesthetics. Back in September, on the All Over Bar the Cricket podcast, Hayden famously vowed he would "walk nude around the MCG" if Root failed to score a hundred this summer. Suddenly, Root's form became a family matter, prompting Hayden's daughter and commentator Grace to plead publicly: "Please @root66 make a hundred."

Root obliged and saved the Hayden household some considerable embarrassment. "Congratulations, mate," Hayden said afterwards. "No one had more skin in the game than me, literally."

Even Alastair Cook could not resist a gentle dig. "Even Australians have to admit he is a great now," the former England captain quipped on TNT Sports.

Root worked his way towards the milestone with typical assurance. Unbeaten on 88 at drinks, he moved into the 90s with back-to-back boundaries off Brendan Doggett. England, however, did their best to complicate matters. With Root on 98, Will Jacks attempted a shot he'll regret reviewing later and departed for 19, leaving England 251 for 7 and forcing Root to shepherd the tail yet again.

The Yorkshireman, though, would not be denied. A flick to the leg side off Scott Boland brought up his 40th Test century, celebrated with a badge-kiss and a raised bat -- a moment England fans had waited 12 years to see on Australian soil.

The ECB summed up the mood on X: "No doubt before. No doubt now. A true great of the game."

Root finished unbeaten on a commanding 135, adding an invaluable 61-run stand with last man Jofra Archer, as England ended the day on 325 for 9.