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Finally, the very celebration was flawless, under lights under that strange vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – manic Baz energy, the English lower order scything away in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, Joe Root eased the ball away past fine leg to secure his maiden Test hundred in Australia.

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

A Milestone Caught in Its Own Light

A man who already had 39 hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now scored his 40th. However, trace the story, the artistry, the jags in the road.

There'll, of course, be plenty of banter-war stuff to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he *Australian* great?

Yet there exists something deeper about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning one-upmanship. Every Australian who understands cricket recognizes Root is a exceptional cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Solid Anchor

This ton felt important in other ways, not least as something solid in the series for this team, a handhold in the difficulty.

Can England secure victory 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 brilliant one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that could 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. Root was dropped early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Crease

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

On one side, Root was exuding calm, relaxed, graceful, 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 Damaging Choice

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

The Veteran's Steady Response

Therefore one half of this England team kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for everyone else’s too.

He offered his own masterful response, a victory for diligence, correcting your flaws.

England are still in this series because he scaled the peak, delivered a lesson in what skill ultimately means.

Will they take twenty wickets? Will they adapt? Uncertain. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.