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Finally, even the celebration was flawless, out there under that unique deep-blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, the English lower order scything away with reckless abandon at the other end.

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

But, then if you know, you know. Consider trying to explain why this was not just heartwarming, inspiring and cathartic, but subtly monumental.

A Milestone Preserved in Its Own Light

A batsman who already possessed 39 hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his 40th. However, follow the journey, the craft, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be a lot of discussion stuff to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

But there is something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning one-upmanship. Every Australian who understands cricket already knows Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Century as a Solid Anchor

The century felt important in other ways, especially as something concrete in the series for this team, a anchor 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.

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

The innings commenced with the team in deep trouble, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at a dire 5 for 2. Root was dropped 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 exuding calm, easy, graceful, alert. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a gloom was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc revving up for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Costly Stroke

Is it wise to challenge this? Yes. No settling in, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

The delivery 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've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Response

Thus one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the team's cause.

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

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Can they evolve? Uncertain. But Joe Root made a hundred.