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In the end, the moment of celebration was perfect, under lights under that unique intense blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely death cult-style at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. At the heart, the veteran batsman steered the ball away through fine leg to secure his first Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Preserved in Time

A player who already possessed thirty-nine tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now scored his fortieth. Yet, trace the narrative, the craft, the twists and turns.

There'll, of course, be a lot of banter-war stuff to be resolved. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

But there is something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Every Australian who cares for cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Reliable Handhold

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

Will England triumph at the Gabba? Don’t know. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook play... the worst shot yet? Yes. He did.

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

The innings commenced with the wings already falling off, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at two wickets down for five runs. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Crease

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

On one side, Root was simply being himself, easy, graceful, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Throughout, a darkness was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc preparing for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Stroke

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

The delivery to Brook was full, the edge clear. 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 like the Tin Man. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Answer

Therefore one half of this England team kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted with immense resolve, but for the team's cause.

Root provided his own masterful response, a success for preparation, addressing your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he achieved the milestone, delivered a lesson in what ability ultimately means.

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Are they going to learn? Not sure. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.