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Ultimately, the moment of celebration was ideal, on the field under that strange intense blue southern sky, within the tumult of the match situation – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. Amidst it all, the former captain steered the ball away to fine leg to notch his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was not just warm, uplifting and cleansing, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Preserved in Its Own Light

A player who already possessed thirty-nine hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now registered his fortieth. But, consider the narrative, the artistry, the setbacks.

There'll, of course, be plenty of discussion talk to be hashed out. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

But there is something further about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about point-scoring. Any Australian who understands cricket recognizes Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Century as a Solid Anchor

The century felt significant in other ways, especially as something concrete in the series for this team, a foothold in the glacier.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? Uncertain. But Joe Root got a hundred. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a outstanding one in authentically 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 greatest modern player coming out at a dire 5 for 2. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Middle

By mid-afternoon, England were 175 for three. Two versions of elite Yorkshire grit at the crease.

On one side, Root was exuding calm, relaxed, lithe, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a dusk was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro revving up for the key spell of the day.

A Costly Decision

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

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We have seen England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Quiet Rebuke

And so one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted with immense resolve, but for the entire innings.

He offered his own quiet rebuke, a triumph for diligence, working at your flaws.

England are still in this series because he scaled the peak, provided a lesson in what ability in the end means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Are they going to learn? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root did score a hundred.