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Finally, the very celebration was perfect, under lights under that strange deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. At the heart, the veteran batsman guided the ball away through fine leg to notch his first Test hundred in Australia.

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

A Milestone Frozen in Time

A man who already possessed thirty-nine centuries in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. Yet, trace the narrative, the skill, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be much banter-war material to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

Yet there exists something more about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Any Australian who knows about cricket recognizes Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Solid Foundation

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

Will England triumph at the Gabba? Uncertain. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook play... the worst shot yet? Yes. He did.

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a brilliant one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It began with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Middle

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

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

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

A Costly Choice

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, the edge healthy. There is no scenario where this was a smart choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia without fluidity. 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 for survival, but for everyone else’s too.

He delivered his own quiet rebuke, a triumph for diligence, correcting your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he did the thing, offered a lesson in what talent in the end means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Are they going to learn? Uncertain. But Joe Root did score a hundred.