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Ultimately, even the celebration was perfect, under lights under that strange intense blue southern sky, within the tumult of the game-state – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. Amidst it all, Joe Root guided the ball away through fine leg to notch his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Consider trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, inspiring and cathartic, but quietly epic.

A Moment Frozen in Time

A player who already possessed 39 hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now scored his fortieth. However, trace the narrative, the skill, the twists and turns.

There'll, of course, be a lot of banter-war stuff to be hashed out. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

But there is something further about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about one-upmanship. Every Australian who knows about cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Reliable Handhold

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

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? Uncertain. But Joe Root got a hundred. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

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

It began with the team in deep trouble, and England’s key batter coming out at 5/2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Crease

By mid-afternoon, England were 175 for three. Two versions of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

On one side, Root was exuding calm, easy, lithe, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a darkness was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius revving up for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No sighters, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its abjectness. We have seen England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Quiet Answer

Thus one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the team's cause.

Root provided his own masterful response, a success for preparation, working at your flaws.

England are still in this series because he achieved the milestone, delivered a lesson in what talent ultimately means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Can they evolve? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root made a hundred.