Matthew Hayden’s bold pre-Ashes prediction about Joe Root is threatening to turn into a nightmare, and the Australian great is the first to admit it. Ahead of the series, Hayden confidently declared that Root would “definitely” score a century in Australia this summer—so confident, in fact, that he jokingly promised to “walk nude around the MCG” if the England star failed to do so. But after Root’s rough start in the first Test, Hayden is suddenly feeling the heat.

Root endured a forgettable outing in the opener, falling for a duck in the first innings and managing only eight in the second. During a Sky Sports segment, Michael Atherton cheekily reminded Hayden of his explosive prediction and asked whether he was nervous now.

“I’m concerned for multiple reasons,” Matthew Hayden laughed, before adding, “The last thing I want to do at 54 is spend the rest of my life in jail.”

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But beyond the humour, Matthew Hayden admitted he didn’t see enough conviction in Root’s batting to feel confident about his prediction holding up. He highlighted Root’s long-standing technique of playing in the fifth- and sixth-stump channel—an area Australia relentlessly targets.

Based on what he saw in Perth, Hayden believes Australia won’t need to change much in their plans, especially under lights with the pink ball. “It’s going to be a big challenge for Joe Root, and an even bigger challenge for me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Root remains determined to turn things around as England head into the pink-ball Test in Brisbane following their eight-wicket defeat.

Speaking to reporters, the 34-year-old admitted the numbers were “disappointing” but insisted his overall batting rhythm was fine. He felt the first-innings dismissal came from a good delivery and the second innings was a case of one poor decision. “You play and miss at that and sometimes it goes for four. You never think of it again,” he said.

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Despite going 29 Test innings without a century in Australia—a streak that has invited heavy criticism—Root is confident of a strong comeback. He emphasised the importance of clarity in his game plan, especially with the pink ball, and spoke about building big partnerships to put England in commanding positions. For Root, the focus is on preparation, communication, and maintaining belief. As England look to level the series, all eyes will be on whether Root can rediscover his touch—and whether Hayden’s bold promise will continue to haunt him.