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Finally, the very celebration was ideal, out there under that unusual vivid blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, the English lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

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

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Consider trying to explain why this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cleansing, but quietly epic.

A Moment Caught in Time

A player who already possessed 39 centuries in this rigorous discipline of a sport has now registered his fortieth. However, consider the story, the skill, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be much debate material to be resolved. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

Yet there exists something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Any Australian who understands cricket already knows Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Solid Anchor

The century felt significant in other ways, especially as something solid in the series for this team, a foothold in the difficulty.

Will England triumph at the Gabba? It's unclear. 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 outstanding one in authentically 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 premier batsman coming out at two wickets down for five runs. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Crease

In the afternoon session, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease.

At one end, Root was playing his natural game, easy, lithe, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Throughout, a dusk was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the swing maestro building up for the key spell of the day.

A Costly Decision

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 thick. There is no scenario where this was a sensible choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Steady Rebuke

Thus one half of this England team kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the team's cause.

He offered his own masterful response, a triumph for diligence, working at your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he scaled the peak, provided a lesson in what ability truly means.

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