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Ultimately, even the celebration was flawless, under lights under that unique intense blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order swinging freely with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. Amidst it all, the veteran batsman eased the ball away to fine leg to notch his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Consider trying to explain the reason this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but quietly epic.

A Moment Preserved in Time

A player who already had 39 hundreds in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now scored his fortieth. However, trace the journey, the craft, the twists and turns.

There'll, of course, be a lot of debate material to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something further about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding one-upmanship. Every Australian who cares for cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Century as a Solid Anchor

This ton felt meaningful in other ways, not least as something concrete in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? Uncertain. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook play... the worst shot yet? Yes. He did.

This was not merely a hundred in Australia, but a outstanding one in truly tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Middle

By mid-afternoon, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

At one end, Root was simply being himself, easy, graceful, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a dusk was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro preparing for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Is it wise to challenge this? Yes. No sighters, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

The delivery to Brook was full, the edge clear. There is no world where this was a sensible choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its abjectness. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Steady Rebuke

And so one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the entire innings.

He delivered his own quiet rebuke, a victory for preparation, working at your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he achieved the milestone, offered a lesson in what talent ultimately means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Can they evolve? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.