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In the end, even the celebration was perfect, out there under that unique vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the match situation – frantic Baz energy, the English lower order cutting loose death cult-style at the other end.

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

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain why this was more than warm, inspiring and cleansing, but profoundly significant.

An Achievement Caught in Its Own Light

A player who already possessed 39 tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his fortieth. But, trace the journey, the craft, the twists and turns.

There will, of course, be a lot of banter-war material to be hashed out. Does this cement Joe Root's greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

However, there is something further about hoping for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding one-upmanship. Any Australian who cares for cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Hundred as a Reliable Anchor

This ton felt significant in other ways, particularly as something tangible in the series for this team, a anchor in the difficulty.

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

And not just a hundred in Australia, but a outstanding one in authentically tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It had to start with the team in deep trouble, and England’s key batter coming out at 5/2. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Contrast in the Crease

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

At one end, Root was simply being himself, relaxed, graceful, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Throughout, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius building up for the crucial spell of the day.

A Costly Stroke

Should one attack this threat? Apparently so. No sighters, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

The delivery to Brook was full, the edge thick. There is no world where this was a smart choice.

It was, if nothing else, novel in its abjectness. We've witnessed England bat in Australia like a rusted machine. Now Brook gave us the scarecrow, batting without a brain.

Root's Steady Rebuke

Therefore one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted not just for his life, but for the team's cause.

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

England are still in this series because he achieved the milestone, offered a lesson in what ability in the end means.

Can they dismiss Australia? Can they evolve? Not sure. But Joe Root made a hundred.