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Finally, the very celebration was ideal, out there under that strange deep-blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the game-state – manic Baz energy, the English lower order swinging freely death cult-style at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. At the heart, the veteran batsman eased the ball away past fine leg to notch his first 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 cleansing, but quietly epic.

A Moment Frozen in Time

A player who already had 39 centuries in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now compiled his 40th. However, consider the journey, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be plenty of banter-war stuff to be hashed out. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

But there is something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about point-scoring. Any Australian who knows about cricket is well aware Root is a world-class cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Sturdy Foundation

The century felt significant in other ways, especially as something tangible in the series for this team, a foothold in the glacier.

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

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

It began with the team in deep trouble, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at a dire 5 for 2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Middle

In the afternoon session, England were in a reasonable position. Two examples of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

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

Throughout, a dusk was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius revving up for the key spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Is it wise to challenge this? Apparently so. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was at least novel in its utter failure. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. 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 with immense resolve, but for the entire innings.

He offered his own subtle correction, a success for doing your homework, working at your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he did the thing, offered a lesson in what ability ultimately means.

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