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In the end, the moment of celebration was perfect, on the field under that unique deep-blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the game-state – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. Amidst it all, the veteran batsman steered the ball away past fine leg to secure his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Picture trying to explain the reason this was not just heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but quietly epic.

A Moment Caught in Time

A player who already possessed 39 centuries in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. But, consider the story, the craft, the setbacks.

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

Yet there exists something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding rivalry. Any Australian who knows about cricket recognizes Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Solid Anchor

This ton felt important in other ways, not least as something tangible 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. Did Harry Brook produce a disastrous stroke? Yes. He did.

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a superb one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that could have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the team in deep trouble, and England’s key batter coming out at a dire 5 for 2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Middle

In the afternoon session, England were 175 for three. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

On one side, Root was exuding calm, easy, lithe, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

All the while, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro building up for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Stroke

Do you run towards this danger? Yes. No sighters, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

The ball to Brook was full-length, the edge thick. There is no scenario where this was a good choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its abjectness. We've witnessed England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Rebuke

And so one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

Root provided his own quiet rebuke, a triumph for doing your homework, correcting your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he did the thing, delivered a lesson in what skill truly means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Will they adapt? Not sure. But Joe Root made a hundred.