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Finally, even the celebration was ideal, out there under that strange deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the contest – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away with reckless abandon at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. In the middle, the veteran batsman eased the ball away to fine leg to notch his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Consider trying to explain the reason this was not just warm, inspiring and cathartic, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Preserved in Time

A player who already possessed 39 tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his fortieth. But, trace the narrative, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There'll, of course, be much debate stuff to be settled. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

Yet there exists something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning one-upmanship. Every Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Century as a Solid Handhold

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

Will England triumph at the Gabba? Don’t know. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook play... the worst shot yet? Yes. He did.

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a brilliant one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that could 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. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

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

On one side, Root was playing his natural game, relaxed, graceful, watchful. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

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

A Reckless Decision

Is it wise to challenge this? Apparently so. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

The ball to Brook was full, the edge thick. There is no context where this was a sensible choice.

It was at least novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Response

Thus one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the entire innings.

He offered his own quiet rebuke, a success for doing your homework, working at your flaws.

England are still in this series because he scaled the peak, offered a lesson in what skill in the end means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Will they adapt? Not sure. But Joe Root did score a hundred.