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Ultimately, even the celebration was perfect, on the field under that unique vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – manic Baz energy, the English lower order swinging freely death cult-style at the other end.

Right. All that drama. In the middle, the former captain guided the ball away past fine leg to secure his first Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Picture trying to explain why this was not just warm, uplifting and cleansing, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Caught in Time

A player who already possessed 39 tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his 40th. But, follow the narrative, the craft, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be a lot of discussion stuff to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he *Australian* great?

But there is something further about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about one-upmanship. Any Australian who understands cricket is well aware Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Solid Anchor

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

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? It's unclear. But Joe Root got a hundred. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

This was not merely a hundred in Australia, but a outstanding one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the team in deep trouble, and England’s key batter coming out at 5/2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Middle

By mid-afternoon, England were in a reasonable position. Two versions of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

At one end, Root was simply being himself, easy, graceful, watchful. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

All the while, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius building up for the key 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 ball to Brook was full-length, the edge clear. There is no scenario where this was a sensible choice.

It was at least novel in its utter failure. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Response

Therefore one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the entire innings.

Root provided his own quiet rebuke, a victory for preparation, addressing your flaws.

England are still in this series because he did the thing, offered a lesson in what ability truly means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Will they adapt? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root did score a hundred.