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In the end, even the celebration was flawless, under lights under that unique vivid blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. Amidst it all, Joe Root eased the ball away past fine leg to secure his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

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

A Milestone Caught in Time

A man who already possessed thirty-nine centuries in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. However, follow the journey, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There will, of course, be a lot of banter-war talk to be resolved. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

But there is something more about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding one-upmanship. Any Australian who knows about cricket recognizes Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Solid Handhold

This ton felt meaningful in other ways, particularly as something solid in the series for this team, a handhold in the ice.

Can England secure victory 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 genuinely tough conditions, an innings that could have saved his team in this series.

It began with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at 5/2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Crease

As the day progressed, England were 175 for three. Two versions of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

On one side, Root was simply being himself, easy, lithe, alert. 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 building up for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Should one attack this threat? Apparently so. No settling in, no feet. Just a reckless waft first up.

The delivery to Brook was full-length, the edge healthy. 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 without fluidity. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Answer

Therefore one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the team's cause.

He delivered his own masterful response, a triumph for diligence, correcting your flaws.

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Are they going to learn? Not sure. But Joe Root did score a hundred.