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Ultimately, even the celebration was ideal, out there under that unusual vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. In the middle, the veteran batsman guided the ball away to fine leg to notch his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain why this was not just warm, uplifting and cleansing, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Caught in Its Own Light

A player who already had 39 hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. But, consider the story, the skill, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be much debate stuff to be resolved. Is Joe Root finally great? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

However, there is something more about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It’s not about rivalry. Any Australian who understands cricket is well aware Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Reliable Foundation

The century felt meaningful in other ways, not least as something concrete in the series for this team, a anchor in the ice.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? It's unclear. But Joe Root got a hundred. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

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

The innings commenced with the wings already falling off, and England’s key batter coming out at two wickets down for five runs. A chance was put down 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 playing his natural game, easy, lithe, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

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

A Reckless Decision

Do you run towards this danger? Apparently so. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was at least 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 Response

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 quiet rebuke, a success for doing your homework, correcting your flaws.

England are still in this series because he achieved the milestone, provided a lesson in what skill truly means.

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