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Ultimately, even the celebration was perfect, under lights under that unique deep-blue southern sky, within the tumult of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Right. All that drama. At the heart, the former captain guided the ball away through fine leg to notch his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Picture trying to explain the reason this was not just warm, uplifting and cleansing, but subtly monumental.

An Achievement Preserved in Time

A player who already had 39 tons in this traditional format of a sport has now compiled his 40th. However, consider the narrative, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There'll, of course, be a lot of banter-war stuff to be hashed out. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

Yet there exists something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about rivalry. Every Australian who understands cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Sturdy Anchor

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

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? Uncertain. 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 might just have saved his team in this series.

It began 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 Juxtaposition in the Middle

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

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

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

A Damaging Decision

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

The ball to Brook was full-length, the edge clear. There is no scenario where this was a sensible choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia without fluidity. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Quiet Rebuke

Therefore one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

Root provided his own masterful response, a victory for diligence, working at your flaws.

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

Can they dismiss Australia? Will they adapt? Uncertain. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.