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

Right. All that drama. At the heart, the former captain steered the ball away to fine leg to secure his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Picture trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, uplifting and cathartic, but quietly epic.

A Moment Preserved in Its Own Light

A player who already possessed thirty-nine hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his 40th. However, follow the narrative, the skill, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be much debate stuff to be hashed out. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

However, there is something deeper about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Any Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Reliable Anchor

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

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a outstanding one in truly tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It had to start with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

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

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

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

A Damaging Stroke

Should one attack this threat? Yes. No sighters, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, 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 kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the team's cause.

Root provided his own subtle correction, a success for diligence, working at your flaws.

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

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