New Delhi: England star Joe Root continued his prolific run in theAshes 2025-26 with a stellar ton on Day 2 of the ongoing 5th Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on Monday, January 05. Root notched up his 41st Test century to go on level terms with the legendary Ricky Ponting on the elite list of batters with most centuries in Test cricket.

Root completed his ton with a couple against Aussie pacer Michael Neser during Day 2 of the SCG Test on Monday. He scored his ton off 146 balls in what was an innings marked by class and composure. The former England skipper looked in complete control throughout his knock and helped England post 272/5 in the morning session after resuming Day 2 on 72.

It was Root’s second ton in the Ashes 2025-26 as he now holds the joint-third spot in the elite list of batters with most centuries in Test history. The England talisman equalled Ponting, who finished his career with 41 centuries in 168 Test matches. Root, who has 41 tons in 163 Tests in his career so far, is only behind Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) in the all-time list of most Test tons.

Players with most Test centuries:

Sachin Tendulkar – 51 centuries in 200 matches

Jacques Kallis – 45 centuries in 166 matches

Ricky Ponting – 41 centuries in 168 matches

Joe Root – 41 centuries in 163 matches

Kumar Sangakkara – 38 centuries in 134 matches

It was also Root’s first ton in 2026 as he kicked off the year by continuing his red-hot form in the whites for England. The former England skipper has been one of the most consistent performers in the longest format over the last couple of years and continues to ace new milestones with his remarkable consistency.

Joe Root scores 2nd Test ton in Australia

Heading into the Ashes 2025-26, there were concerns about Root’s average record in Australia as the star batter had never managed to score a century Down Under. However, the England batter responded to his critics in style with a sublime 138-run knock in the day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane in the ongoing series.

Root, who seems to be now enjoying batting in Aussie conditions, scored his second Test century in the country during the SCG Test on Monday. The England batter holds the record for the most Test centuries by an active batter currently and needs only five more tons to go past Kallis to take the 2nd spot on the list of batters with most hundreds in the longest format.