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In the end, the moment of celebration was perfect, out there under that unusual deep-blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order swinging freely with reckless abandon at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, the veteran batsman guided the ball away past fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Picture trying to explain why this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cleansing, but profoundly significant.

An Achievement Frozen in Its Own Light

A player who already possessed 39 hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now registered his 40th. However, follow the journey, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be much discussion talk to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

However, there is something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about rivalry. Every Australian who understands cricket is well aware Root is a world-class cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Sturdy Anchor

Root’s hundred felt important in other ways, particularly as something concrete in the series for this team, a foothold in the difficulty.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? It's unclear. 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 outstanding one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

It began with the wings already falling off, and England’s key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Middle

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

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

Meanwhile, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc building up for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Do you run towards this danger? Apparently so. No sighters, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

The delivery to Brook was full-length, the edge thick. There is no context where this was a smart choice.

It was at least novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Silent Rebuke

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

He delivered his own masterful response, a triumph for doing your homework, correcting your flaws.

England are still in this series because he achieved the milestone, delivered a lesson in what skill truly means.

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