Matthew Hayden left Matt Prior and Steven Finn in stitches with his hilarious exit from the TNT Sports panel after the first day of the second Ashes Test. Joe Root’s staggering century has left England in a strong position as they finished the day 325/9. 

The Australian Ashes icon would have been particularly pleased with that outcome after he promised to walk round the MCG naked if Root did not secure a 100 away from home. Unsurprisingly, Hayden was in a particularly good mood, but he was eager to make a swift exit upon seeing Zak Crawley emerge.

He said: “I see Zak Crawley has just flown into the background here, that will be my relief. I can stop sweating bullets now.” Lead presenter Becky Ives said: “Matty, do you want to stay or do you want to go?” He replied: “I want to go. I mean I love you guys, but it’s time to go.”

Ives then concluded that chat: “Yeah it’s time to go, thank you so much for joining us. Fantastic, oh he’s brilliant. Anyone is welcome at this desk, they stay as long as they want.”

Earlier on, Hayden sent his congratulations to Root for such a remarkable achievement that he has waited a long time for. He said: “G’day Joe, congratulations mate on a hundred here in Australia. [It] took you a while and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally.

“I was backing you for a hundred in a good way. So mate, congratulations, ten fifties and finally a hundred. You little ripper mate, have a beauty and bloody enjoy it.”

Zak Crawley and Jofra Archer also put in great shifts at the crease but England were again tormented by Mitchel Starc who ended the day 6-71. But he and Australia’s bowling attack could not find a way to get Root out with Crawley full of praise for his performance at The Gabba.

He said: “I’m chuffed for him. He hasn’t been speaking about it at all. It’s all outside noise. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with or against. A champion bloke.”