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Finally, the very celebration was flawless, on the field under that strange deep-blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the contest – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

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

But, then if you know, you know. Consider trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, uplifting and cleansing, but subtly monumental.

A Milestone Caught in Time

A batsman who already possessed 39 hundreds in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now scored his fortieth. Yet, trace the story, the craft, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be a lot of banter-war material to be hashed out. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something more about wanting Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about one-upmanship. Every Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Century as a Sturdy Foundation

The century felt important in other ways, particularly as something solid in the series for this team, a handhold in the glacier.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? It's unclear. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook produce a disastrous stroke? Yes. He did.

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a brilliant one in truly tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It had to start with the wings already falling off, 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 Middle

As the day progressed, England were in a reasonable position. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire grit at the crease.

On one side, Root was simply being himself, relaxed, lithe, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

All the while, 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 ball to Brook was full, the edge clear. There is no scenario where this was a smart choice.

It was at least novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Steady Rebuke

And so one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for everyone else’s too.

He offered his own subtle correction, a victory for preparation, working at your flaws.

England are still in this series because he did the thing, provided a lesson in what ability ultimately means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Will they adapt? Uncertain. But Joe Root made a hundred.