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Ultimately, the very celebration was perfect, out there under that unique deep-blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose death cult-style at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. Amidst it all, the former captain guided the ball away through fine leg to notch his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Consider trying to explain why this was not just heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Caught in Its Own Light

A batsman who already had thirty-nine centuries in this traditional format of a sport has now registered his fortieth. Yet, follow the narrative, the craft, the setbacks.

There'll, of course, be a lot of debate material to be settled. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

Yet there exists something deeper about wanting Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Every Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Century as a Reliable Anchor

Root’s hundred felt important in other ways, particularly as something solid in the series for this team, a foothold in the glacier.

Will England triumph 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 brilliant one in genuinely 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 key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

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

At one end, Root was playing his natural game, relaxed, graceful, watchful. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

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

A Damaging Choice

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was at least novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Rebuke

Therefore one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

Root provided his own quiet rebuke, a success for doing your homework, addressing your flaws.

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Will they adapt? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root did score a hundred.