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Ultimately, the moment of celebration was perfect, under lights under that strange vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. In the middle, the veteran batsman eased the ball away past fine leg to secure his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, inspiring and cathartic, but subtly monumental.

An Achievement Preserved in Its Own Light

A batsman who already possessed thirty-nine hundreds in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now scored his fortieth. Yet, consider the story, the craft, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be a lot of debate material to be resolved. Is Joe Root finally great? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

But there is something deeper about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Every Australian who cares for cricket recognizes Root is a exceptional cricketer.

Root's Century as a Sturdy Anchor

Root’s hundred felt significant in other ways, particularly as something solid in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

Can England secure victory 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 superb one in truly tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It had to start 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 Dichotomy in the Crease

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

At one end, Root was simply being himself, relaxed, graceful, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius building up for the crucial spell of the day.

A Costly 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 scenario where this was a sensible choice.

It was at least novel in its abjectness. We have seen England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Steady Rebuke

And so one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

He offered his own quiet rebuke, a victory for doing your homework, correcting your flaws.

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

Can they dismiss Australia? Can they evolve? Not sure. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.