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In the end, the very celebration was flawless, under lights under that strange vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the contest – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

Indeed. All of that. At the heart, the former captain eased the ball away past fine leg to complete his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

Yet, the true meaning resonates with those who have followed the journey. Consider trying to explain the reason this was more than heartwarming, uplifting and cathartic, but subtly monumental.

An Achievement Caught in Time

A player who already had thirty-nine hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now compiled his 40th. But, consider the journey, the craft, the twists and turns.

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

However, there is something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning one-upmanship. Every Australian who understands cricket recognizes Root is a world-class cricketer.

Root's Hundred as a Solid Anchor

This ton felt important in other ways, especially as something tangible in the series for this team, a foothold in the ice.

Will England triumph at the Gabba? It's unclear. But Joe Root got a hundred. Did Harry Brook produce a disastrous stroke? Yes. He did.

This was not merely a hundred in Australia, but a superb one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It had to start with the wings already falling off, and England’s key batter coming out at a dire 5 for 2. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Middle

In the afternoon session, England were in a reasonable position. Two versions of elite Yorkshire grit at the crease.

On one side, Root was exuding calm, easy, lithe, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

All the while, a darkness was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc building up for the crucial spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No sighters, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up.

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

It was, if nothing else, novel in its utter failure. We have seen England bat in Australia like the Tin Man. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Silent Rebuke

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.

Root provided his own quiet rebuke, a triumph for doing your homework, working at your flaws.

The tourists are still in this series because he scaled the peak, provided a lesson in what talent ultimately means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Will they adapt? Not sure. But Joe Root did score a hundred.