“Thank You Joe Root” — Social media troll Matthew Hayden over “Will walk naked” remark
Matthew Hayden was the subject of some jokes on social media after Joe Root ended his long wait to score his maiden Test century in Australia during the first test of the Ashes on Thursday.
Root made his Test debut in Australia 16 times without scoring a Test century until now, with the exception of 10 fifties before this Test match. After having a rough start to the series in Perth, where Root was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and eight runs in the second innings, he was able to finally score a century in Australia, which is also a significant milestone in his Test career.
In addition, Root now has over 1000 Test runs in Australia and would have made history by becoming the first batter ranked in the top seven as per ICC player rankings to score over 1000 runs as a visiting player without ever scoring a century in that country.
Matthew Hayden Faces Wave of Social Media Ridicule
As Joe Root celebrated his latest achievement, the comments of Matthew Hayden from before the series gained significant traction on social media. The legendary Australian cricketer had expressed considerable confidence that Root would put an end to his lengthy run of not scoring a century, and he made an outlandish bet that if Root did score a century this time, he would walk naked at the MCG.
After Root scored his century, fans quickly remembered Hayden’s comment and expressed their relief that Root had broken his century drought, as well as poking fun at Hayden for his overconfidence in Root’ abilities.
No One Had More Skin in the Game than Me Literally
Hayden congratulated Root on the century and had a good laugh about his pre-series prediction. Hayden said:
Congratulations mate. No one had skin in the game than me, literally. I was backing you for a hundred in a good way. Congratulations. 10 fifties and a hundred. You ripper mate.
Root’s century allowed England to reach 300 against Starc’s six wickets.
Watch the video how Matthew Hayden expresses happiness after Joe Root’s century:
🤳 (1) 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲@HaydosTweets has something he'd like to say to Joe Root 😅 pic.twitter.com/0yPGk7JC5S
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 4, 2025
Social Media Reaction
A Cricket Fan Page Takes a Jeer at Hayden’s “Naked” Comment After Root’s Century
Congratulations Matthew Hayden on Joe Root's hundred. pic.twitter.com/9jF77ns2lm
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 4, 2025
Rajasthan Royals’ Comment on Matthew Hayden After Joe Root’s
Congratulations 𝙹̶𝚘̶𝚎̶ ̶𝚁̶𝚘̶𝚘̶𝚝̶ Matthew Hayden 😂💗 pic.twitter.com/2PiYFwhpa3
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) December 4, 2025
Fan Pages Call Matthew Hayden “The Happiest Man”
Matthew Hayden is the happiest man! pic.twitter.com/pSBe7RaRsN
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 4, 2025
A Cricket Fan Takes a Jibe at Matthew Hayden. Thanks Root for Saving Fans from “Haydos Disaster”
Thanks Joe Root for saving us from the Haydos disaster 😂 https://t.co/wIixEiXyf0
— Indoosan (@Indooshan) December 4, 2025
Hayden’s Daughter Thanks Root
Matthew Hayden’s daughter’s Instagram story on Joe Root’s hundred. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/OeCZLJk5N5
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 4, 2025
A Fan Page Appreciates Joe Root’s Extraordinary Knock for His Maiden Test Century in Australia
JOE ROOT HAS JUST SAVED US FROM WATCHING MATTHEW HAYDEN RUN "NAKED".😭🔥
— Pankaj (@downloadedx8) December 4, 2025
Thank you, Joseph Edward Root. 🐐💙
Joe Root didn’t just score a century in Australia…
He protected millions of innocent eyes. 😭🔥
Remember when Matthew Hayden promised he’d run NAKED at the MCG if Root… pic.twitter.com/vA8fL8tiK9
Comments