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Finally, even the celebration was flawless, under lights under that strange vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. In the middle, Joe Root guided the ball away through fine leg to complete his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain why this was more than warm, inspiring and cleansing, but quietly epic.

A Milestone Frozen in Its Own Light

A batsman who already had thirty-nine hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now scored his fortieth. However, consider the story, the craft, the setbacks.

There'll, of course, be plenty of banter-war talk to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

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

The Captain's Hundred as a Solid Handhold

The century felt significant in other ways, not least as something solid in the series for this team, a foothold in the difficulty.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? Don’t know. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook play... the worst shot yet? Yes. He did.

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

The innings commenced with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s premier batsman coming out at 5/2. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

In the afternoon session, England were in a reasonable position. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

On one side, Root was simply being himself, relaxed, graceful, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

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

A Reckless Stroke

Should one attack this threat? Yep. No sighters, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

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

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

Root's Steady Response

Thus one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the entire innings.

He offered his own subtle correction, a success for diligence, addressing your flaws.

England are still in this series because he scaled the peak, offered a lesson in what talent truly means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Can they evolve? Uncertain. But Joe Root did score a hundred.