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In the end, even the celebration was perfect, on the field under that strange deep-blue southern sky, within the tumult of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away in a do-or-die manner at the other end.

Right. All that drama. Amidst it all, the veteran batsman steered the ball away past fine leg to notch his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

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

A Moment Caught in Its Own Light

A man who already had thirty-nine tons in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his 40th. Yet, trace the story, the artistry, the setbacks.

There will, of course, be much banter-war stuff to be hashed out. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he *Australian* great?

But there is something deeper about wishing for Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding one-upmanship. Every Australian who knows about cricket recognizes Root is a great cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Reliable Anchor

The century felt significant 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. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did.

And not just 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 early wickets tumbling, 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 in a reasonable position. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire batting at the crease.

At one end, Root was playing his natural game, easy, graceful, alert. Meanwhile, Brook was batting like a man who desperately needs the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a dusk was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and the pink ball genius revving up for the key spell of the day.

A Damaging Choice

Do you run towards this danger? Yes. No settling in, no feet. Just a flash of the bat first up.

The delivery to Brook was full-length, the edge healthy. There is no scenario where this was a smart choice.

It was at least 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 Silent Rebuke

And so one half of this England team kept faltering, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for everyone else’s too.

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

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

Are they going to bowl Australia out? Are they going to learn? Not sure. But Joe Root made a hundred.