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Finally, even the celebration was ideal, under lights under that unusual intense blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, the former captain guided the ball away to fine leg to notch 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 Frozen in Its Own Light

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

There will, of course, be plenty of debate stuff to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

Yet there exists something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about one-upmanship. Every Australian who understands cricket is well aware Root is a exceptional cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Sturdy Foundation

Root’s hundred felt meaningful in other ways, not least as something concrete in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

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

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

It began with the early wickets tumbling, 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

In the afternoon session, England were in a reasonable position. Two examples of elite Yorkshire grit 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 urgently requires the bathroom.

All the while, a dusk was coming, 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? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

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

Root's Quiet Answer

Therefore one half of this England team kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for everyone else’s too.

He offered his own masterful response, a success for doing your homework, working at your flaws.

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

Can they dismiss Australia? Will they adapt? Uncertain. But Joe Root did score a hundred.