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In the end, even the celebration was flawless, under lights under that strange intense blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, the English lower order cutting loose in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Right. All that drama. At the heart, Joe Root guided the ball away to fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Picture trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, inspiring and cathartic, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Frozen in Its Own Light

A player who already possessed 39 tons in this traditional format of a sport has now scored his 40th. However, follow the story, the craft, the twists and turns.

There will, of course, be a lot of discussion talk to be hashed out. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something further about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about point-scoring. Any Australian who cares for cricket is well aware Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Century as a Solid Anchor

Root’s hundred felt important in other ways, particularly as something concrete 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 produce a disastrous stroke? Yes. He did.

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

It began with the wings already falling off, and England’s premier batsman coming out at 5/2. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Crease

By mid-afternoon, England were in a reasonable position. Two examples of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

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

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

A Costly Stroke

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No sighters, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

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

It was at least novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Quiet Rebuke

Therefore one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted with immense resolve, but for the team's cause.

He offered his own masterful response, a success for diligence, correcting your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he scaled the peak, delivered a lesson in what talent in the end means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Will they adapt? Not sure. But Joe Root did score a hundred.