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Ultimately, even the celebration was perfect, on the field under that unique vivid blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. In the middle, the veteran batsman eased the ball away to 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 more than warm, inspiring and cathartic, but quietly epic.

A Moment Frozen in Its Own Light

A player who already had 39 hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now compiled his 40th. Yet, follow the narrative, the craft, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be a lot of banter-war stuff to be resolved. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

Yet there exists something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding rivalry. Every Australian who cares for cricket already knows Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Century as a Solid Foundation

The century felt meaningful in other ways, particularly as something solid in the series for this team, a foothold in the difficulty.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? It's unclear. 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 brilliant one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

It had to start with the team in deep trouble, and England’s premier batsman coming out at a dire 5 for 2. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Crease

As the day progressed, England were in a reasonable position. Two examples of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

At one end, Root was exuding calm, easy, graceful, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a dusk was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius preparing for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Decision

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

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

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

The Veteran's Quiet Response

Thus one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the entire innings.

Root provided his own subtle correction, a success for preparation, correcting your flaws.

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

Can they dismiss Australia? Can they evolve? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root made a hundred.