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Finally, the moment of celebration was ideal, under lights under that unique vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely death cult-style at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. In the middle, Joe Root guided the ball away through fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Consider trying to explain why this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but quietly epic.

An Achievement Frozen in Its Own Light

A player who already had 39 hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his 40th. But, follow the story, the skill, the setbacks.

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

Yet there exists something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Every Australian who knows about cricket is well aware Root is a world-class cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Sturdy Anchor

The century felt significant in other ways, not least as something concrete in the series for this team, a handhold in the difficulty.

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

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

It had to start with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s premier batsman coming out at 5/2. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

As the day progressed, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

At one end, Root was playing his natural game, relaxed, graceful, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

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

A Costly Stroke

Should one attack this threat? Yes. No sighters, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, 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.

Root's Steady Response

Therefore one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the team's cause.

He offered his own masterful response, a success for diligence, addressing your flaws.

The tourists 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? Uncertain. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.