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In the end, even the celebration was perfect, under lights under that unique vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the contest – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, the former captain guided the ball away to fine leg to complete his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Consider trying to explain the reason this was more than heartwarming, inspiring and cleansing, but quietly epic.

A Milestone Frozen in Time

A batsman who already possessed 39 tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his 40th. Yet, consider the story, the skill, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be plenty of banter-war stuff to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

Yet there exists something further 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 great cricketer.

Root's Century as a Sturdy Anchor

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

Will England triumph at the Gabba? Uncertain. 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 superb one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the team in deep trouble, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at 5/2. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Crease

As the day progressed, England were 3/175. Two examples of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

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

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

A Damaging Choice

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

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

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

The Veteran's Steady Answer

Thus one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the entire innings.

He offered his own subtle correction, a triumph for diligence, correcting your flaws.

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Are they going to learn? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root did score a hundred.