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Ultimately, even the celebration was perfect, on the field under that unique intense blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, the English lower order swinging freely death cult-style at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, Joe Root eased the ball away past fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Consider trying to explain why this was not just warm, inspiring and cathartic, but quietly epic.

An Achievement Preserved in Time

A player who already possessed thirty-nine tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. However, follow the story, the craft, the twists and turns.

There will, of course, be plenty of banter-war material to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about one-upmanship. Every Australian who cares for cricket recognizes Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Sturdy Foundation

This ton felt important in other ways, especially as something concrete in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? It's unclear. 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 brilliant one in authentically tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the wings already falling off, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at two wickets down for five runs. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Crease

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

At one end, Root was playing his natural game, relaxed, lithe, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

All the while, a darkness was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius building up for the key spell of the day.

A Costly Decision

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

The ball to Brook was full-length, the edge clear. There is no scenario where this was a good choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Rebuke

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

Root provided his own masterful response, a success for doing your homework, addressing your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he did the thing, offered a lesson in what talent truly means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Are they going to learn? Not sure. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.