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Ultimately, even the celebration was ideal, on the field under that unusual intense blue southern sky, within the tumult of the contest – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end.

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

But, then if you know, you know. Picture trying to explain the reason this was not just heartwarming, inspiring and cathartic, but profoundly significant.

A Milestone Frozen in Time

A man who already possessed 39 hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now scored his fortieth. But, follow the journey, the artistry, the twists and turns.

There will, of course, be a lot of debate stuff to be resolved. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Is he *Australian* great?

However, there is something more about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Every Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Reliable Foundation

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

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 superb one in authentically tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

It had to start with the team in deep trouble, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at a dire 5 for 2. 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 examples of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

On one side, Root was playing his natural game, easy, graceful, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc preparing for the key spell of the day.

A Costly Stroke

Do you run towards this danger? 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 world where this was a good choice.

It was at least novel in its complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Quiet Response

And so one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted with immense resolve, but for the entire innings.

Root provided his own subtle correction, a success for diligence, correcting your flaws.

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Are they going to learn? Uncertain. But Joe Root did score a hundred.