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Finally, even the celebration was ideal, under lights under that strange intense blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the contest – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. At the heart, Joe Root steered the ball away to fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Consider trying to explain why this was more than warm, uplifting and cathartic, but subtly monumental.

A Moment Caught in Time

A player who already possessed thirty-nine hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now registered his fortieth. But, trace the journey, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There'll, of course, be much debate talk to be hashed out. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Does he now rank among Australian greats?

Yet there exists something more about wanting Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Every Australian who cares for cricket recognizes Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Sturdy Handhold

Root’s hundred felt meaningful in other ways, especially as something concrete in the series for this team, a foothold in the difficulty.

Can England secure victory at the Gabba? Don’t know. 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 authentically tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the early wickets tumbling, and England’s key batter coming out at a dire 5 for 2. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Juxtaposition in the Crease

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

On one side, Root was simply being himself, relaxed, lithe, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

Throughout, a gloom was coming, the shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc building up for the key spell of the day.

A Reckless Decision

Is it wise to challenge this? Apparently so. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its complete misjudgment. We have seen England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. This was Brook as the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Quiet Response

And so one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

He delivered his own quiet rebuke, a success for preparation, correcting your flaws.

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

Can they dismiss Australia? Can they evolve? It remains to be seen. But Joe Root did score a hundred.