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Ultimately, even the celebration was flawless, under lights under that unique intense blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the contest – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order swinging freely in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Right. All that drama. Amidst it all, the former captain eased the ball away past fine leg to notch his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Consider trying to explain the reason this was not just heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but quietly epic.

An Achievement Frozen in Its Own Light

A player who already had thirty-nine hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now compiled his 40th. However, trace the journey, the skill, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be a lot of banter-war stuff to be resolved. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something more about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning one-upmanship. Any Australian who cares for cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Solid Handhold

Root’s hundred felt important in other ways, not least as something solid in the series for this team, a handhold in the ice.

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? It's unclear. But Joe Root got a hundred. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

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

It began with the wings already falling off, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at 5/2. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Middle

By mid-afternoon, England were 3/175. Two examples of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

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

Meanwhile, a dusk was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro building up for the key spell of the day.

A Damaging Decision

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

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We have seen England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Response

And so one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted with immense resolve, but for the entire innings.

He delivered his own masterful response, a victory for doing your homework, addressing your flaws.

England are still in this series because he scaled the peak, provided a lesson in what ability truly means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Are they going to learn? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.