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Finally, the moment of celebration was ideal, under lights under that strange vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy 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. In the middle, the former captain eased the ball away through fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Picture trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, uplifting and cleansing, but profoundly significant.

A Moment Caught in Its Own Light

A man who already possessed 39 tons in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now registered his 40th. But, consider the story, the craft, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be much discussion stuff to be hashed out. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something more about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning rivalry. Every Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Reliable Anchor

The century felt significant in other ways, not least as something tangible in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? It's unclear. But Joe Root got a hundred. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

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

It had to start with the team in deep trouble, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at two wickets down for five runs. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Crease

As the day progressed, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire grit at the crease.

On one side, Root was simply being himself, easy, lithe, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a darkness was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro preparing for the crucial spell of the day.

A Costly Stroke

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was at least novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Steady Response

Therefore one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the team's cause.

Root provided his own subtle correction, a success for doing your homework, addressing your flaws.

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

Will they take twenty wickets? Can they evolve? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.