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Finally, the moment of celebration was ideal, out there under that strange deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. At the heart, the veteran batsman guided the ball away past fine leg to secure his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, inspiring and cleansing, but quietly epic.

A Milestone Caught in Its Own Light

A man who already possessed 39 centuries in this traditional format of a sport has now registered his fortieth. However, consider the journey, the artistry, the twists and turns.

There'll, of course, be much discussion stuff to be resolved. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

But there is something further about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Any Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Sturdy Anchor

The century felt important in other ways, especially as something solid in the series for this team, a anchor in the ice.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? Uncertain. 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 genuinely tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

It began with the wings already falling off, and England’s premier batsman coming out at two wickets down for five runs. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Middle

In the afternoon session, England were 175 for three. Two examples of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

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

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

A Reckless Stroke

Should one attack this threat? Apparently so. No sighters, no feet. Just a reckless waft 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 complete misjudgment. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Silent Response

And so one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the team's cause.

He offered his own subtle correction, a success for diligence, correcting your flaws.

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

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