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Finally, the moment of celebration was perfect, out there under that unique intense blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the contest – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely with reckless abandon at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. In the middle, Joe Root steered the ball away to fine leg to notch his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cleansing, but subtly monumental.

A Moment Frozen in Time

A player who already had 39 centuries in this traditional format of a sport has now registered his fortieth. Yet, trace the journey, the craft, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be a lot of banter-war talk to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

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

Root's Hundred as a Reliable Anchor

The century felt significant in other ways, particularly as something tangible in the series for this team, a anchor in the ice.

Are England going to win 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 truly tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the wings already falling off, and England’s key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Middle

In the afternoon session, England were in a reasonable position. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

At one end, Root was playing his natural game, relaxed, graceful, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

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

A Costly Choice

Should one attack this threat? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its utter failure. We've witnessed England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Response

Thus 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 subtle correction, a triumph for diligence, correcting your flaws.

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Can they evolve? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.