Australia cricket icon Matthew Hayden’s daughter has expressed gratitude towards England star Joe Root for preventing her father from following through on a bet to strip naked. Root achieved his first century in Australia at the Gabba, marking a significant milestone 12 years after his initial Ashes tour Down Under.
The former England captain’s remarkable innings of 135 not out from 202 balls not only anchored his team’s batting performance but also relieved Grace Hayden from the anxiety of her father’s unconventional wager. Hayden had pledged to walk around the MCG naked if Root failed to score a century during this tour, a promise that had him feeling apprehensive after low scores in previous matches. However, Root’s stellar performance put an end to Hayden’s potential dilemma.
Grace, a commentator, shared her relief on Instagram, making a gesture of thanks and captioning her video with words of appreciation towards Root for saving the day. Hayden, an Australian cricket legend, also acknowledged the close call he narrowly avoided, realizing the repercussions with his wife and daughter had Root not come through.
Expressing his nerves and relief, Hayden congratulated Root on his century, emphasizing the personal stake he had in the bet. He commended Root’s achievement and playfully remarked on the relief felt by his family members. Root’s former captain, Alastair Cook, praised the innings as brilliant and crucial for England, highlighting Root’s consistent performance under pressure and labeling him as England’s finest batsman to date.
The match saw Root’s exceptional display acknowledged by both his teammates and opponents, with Cook recognizing his stature as a cricket great. Root’s achievement not only secured a valuable milestone for him but also averted an unusual and potentially embarrassing situation for Hayden.