The celebration was brief as Australia responded with a commanding performance. The hosts amassed 511 runs, establishing a substantial first-innings lead of 177 runs. England's second innings yielded only 241 runs, with Root contributing just 15. Australia easily chased down the target of 65 runs in 10 overs.
The Gabba defeat marked Root's 16th match in Australia without a victory, setting a new record for most matches played in an away country without a win. This surpassed Kapil Dev's previous record of 15 matches without a win in Pakistan, where he had 10 draws and five losses.Among visiting players in Australia, Daniel Vettori holds the second position with 12 winless games, followed by Ben Stokes with 11 and Dawid Malan with 10.
Root's record in Australia shows 14 losses in 16 games. Only James Anderson and Alastair Cook have experienced more defeats in an away country, with 15 losses each in Australia. Jackie Hobbs and Sachin Tendulkar both recorded 14 losses in Australia.
The century at Gabba came in Root's 30th innings in Australia, making it the second-longest wait for a century in a visiting country. Gordon Greenidge holds the record with 32 innings in Australia before scoring a century.
Root has been a constant presence in England's Ashes tours since 2013, participating in 16 out of 17 matches. England's last victory in Australia came during the 2011 Sydney Test, where they won the Ashes 3-1.
Australia have maintained their dominance at home while managing drawn series in England in 2019 and 2023.
England's current streak of 17 matches without a win in Australia equals that of Pakistan (1955-present) and West Indies (1997-2024). They are just one match behind New Zealand's record of 18 winless matches (1985-2011) in Australia.### Joe Root Breaks Kapil Dev's Unwanted Record After 36 Years
In a bittersweet moment for English cricket, Joe Root etched his name into the history books during the ongoing 2025 Ashes series, surpassing Indian legend Kapil Dev's long-standing unwanted record for the **most Test matches played in a single away country without a win**. Root achieved this dubious milestone with his 16th winless Test in Australia, extending England's barren run Down Under.
#### The Record in Detail
- **Kapil Dev's Mark (Set in 1989)**: The World Cup-winning captain played 15 Tests in Pakistan without a single victory (5 losses, 10 draws). This record stood unbroken for 36 years, a testament to the challenges of subcontinental tours during that era.
- **Joe Root's New Record**: Root now holds the unwanted crown with 16 winless Tests in Australia (14 losses, 2 draws). In these matches, he has amassed 1,548 runs at an average of 52.40, including 5 centuries, but England's team efforts have consistently fallen short.
This makes Root the first player in Test cricket's 148-year history to reach 16 winless games in one foreign nation. England's overall streak without a win in Australia now stands at 17 matches—the second-longest behind New Zealand's 18—since their last triumph at the SCG in 2011.
#### Match Context: Gabba Defeat Seals the Record
The record fell during the second Test of the 2025 Ashes at the Gabba in Brisbane, where England suffered an eight-wicket loss on December 7, 2025. Chasing a modest 183, Australia romped home thanks to a gritty 76 from Steve Smith and an unbeaten 52 from debutant Jake Weatherald, despite early breakthroughs by England's seamers.
England's first innings total of 295 was propped up by Root's **maiden Test century in Australia (118)**—a gritty knock on a seaming pitch that showcased his resilience. However, the second innings collapse (scoring just 98) exposed familiar frailties: poor shot selection, five dropped catches, and struggles with the pink ball under lights. Australia piled on 310 in their first dig, led by a 142 from opener Usman Khawaja.
Root, now 34 and England's most capped player, reflected post-match: "It's tough, but these are the games that test you. We've got to keep fighting." The loss leaves England 0-2 down in the series, with the third Test looming in Adelaide.
#### Broader Implications
Root's streak dates back to his debut Down Under in 2013, spanning multiple Ashes cycles. Despite individual brilliance—boasting the highest average among players with 10+ winless Tests in a single away country—team dynamics, including batting collapses and bowling inconsistencies, have haunted England. Fans and pundits alike hope this record spurs a turnaround, as Root remains a linchpin with over 12,000 Test runs.
For Kapil Dev, whose all-round prowess (444 Test wickets) defined an era, it's a poignant footnote to his legacy. As cricket evolves, such records highlight the enduring mental toll of overseas tours. Stay tuned for the Ashes—could Root finally conquer the "final frontier" in the remaining Tests?
