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Finally, the very celebration was ideal, under lights under that strange intense blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, the former captain eased the ball away past fine leg to complete his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

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

A Milestone Caught in Time

A player who already had thirty-nine hundreds in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now scored his fortieth. However, consider the narrative, the craft, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be a lot of discussion talk to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

But there is something further about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Any Australian who knows about cricket is well aware Root is a exceptional cricketer.

Root's Century as a Reliable Anchor

This ton felt meaningful in other ways, particularly as something concrete in the series for this team, a foothold in the ice.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? Don’t know. 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 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 a dire 5 for 2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Middle

As the day progressed, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

At one end, Root was simply being himself, relaxed, lithe, watchful. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

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

A Reckless Choice

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

The delivery to Brook was full-length, the edge healthy. There is no world where this was a good choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its abjectness. We have seen England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Response

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

He delivered his own subtle correction, a success for diligence, correcting your flaws.

England are still in this series because he did the thing, delivered a lesson in what talent in the end means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Are they going to learn? Not sure. But Joe Root did score a hundred.