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Finally, even the celebration was perfect, under lights under that unusual vivid blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order scything away in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. In the middle, the veteran batsman guided the ball away through fine leg to secure his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Picture trying to explain the reason this was not just warm, inspiring and cleansing, but quietly epic.

An Achievement Caught in Its Own Light

A player who already had 39 tons in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now registered his 40th. Yet, consider the narrative, the skill, the twists and turns.

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

Yet there exists something further about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Any Australian who understands cricket is well aware Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Solid Foundation

This ton felt significant in other ways, especially as something concrete in the series for this team, a handhold in the difficulty.

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? Uncertain. 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 may 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 5/2. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

As the day progressed, England were 175 for three. Two examples of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

At one end, Root was exuding calm, relaxed, graceful, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

All the while, a darkness was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius preparing for the crucial spell of the day.

A Costly Decision

Should one attack this threat? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Answer

Thus one half of this England team kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

He delivered his own quiet rebuke, a success for diligence, working at your flaws.

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

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