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Ultimately, the very celebration was flawless, under lights under that unique deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely with reckless abandon at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. In the middle, Joe Root eased the ball away to fine leg to secure his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

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

An Achievement Frozen in Time

A man who already possessed 39 tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now scored his fortieth. But, trace the journey, the skill, the twists and turns.

There'll, of course, be a lot of discussion stuff to be resolved. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

Yet there exists something further about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning one-upmanship. Any Australian who knows about cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Century as a Sturdy Anchor

This ton felt important in other ways, particularly as something tangible in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

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.

This was not merely a hundred in Australia, but a outstanding one in truly 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. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

By mid-afternoon, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

At one end, Root was simply being himself, easy, graceful, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a dusk was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro revving up for the key spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Do you run towards this danger? Yes. No settling in, 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, if nothing else, novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Response

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

He offered his own quiet rebuke, a success for doing your homework, addressing your flaws.

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

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