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In the end, the moment of celebration was ideal, under lights under that strange intense blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the match situation – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. In the middle, the veteran batsman guided the ball away through fine leg to notch his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, inspiring and cathartic, but subtly monumental.

A Moment Frozen in Time

A man who already possessed thirty-nine centuries in this traditional format of a sport has now compiled his 40th. However, follow the journey, the skill, the jags in the road.

There'll, of course, be a lot of discussion stuff to be hashed out. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

However, there is something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about point-scoring. Every Australian who understands cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Solid Anchor

This ton felt meaningful in other ways, especially as something solid in the series for this team, a handhold in the difficulty.

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 brilliant 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 greatest modern player coming out at a dire 5 for 2. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Crease

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

On one side, Root was exuding calm, easy, lithe, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

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

A Reckless Choice

Do you run towards this danger? 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 world where this was a smart choice.

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

Root's Quiet Answer

Therefore one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the entire innings.

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

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Will they adapt? Not sure. But Joe Root did score a hundred.