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In the end, the moment of celebration was perfect, on the field under that unique vivid blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order swinging freely death cult-style at the other end.

So yeah. All that stuff. Amidst it all, the veteran batsman steered the ball away through fine leg to notch his first Test hundred in Australia.

But, then if you know, you know. Imagine trying to explain the reason this was more than warm, uplifting and cleansing, but quietly epic.

A Milestone Frozen in Time

A batsman who already possessed thirty-nine centuries in this traditional format of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. Yet, consider the journey, the craft, the twists and turns.

There will, of course, be plenty of discussion material to be settled. Is Joe Root finally great? Is he *Australian* great?

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

The Captain's Hundred as a Sturdy Foundation

The century felt important in other ways, particularly as something concrete in the series for this team, a handhold in the ice.

Are England going to win at the Gabba? Don’t know. 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 superb one in truly tough conditions, an innings that might just have saved his team in this series.

It began with the team in deep trouble, and England’s greatest modern player coming out at a dire 5 for 2. He was given a life early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Middle

By mid-afternoon, England were 3/175. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire grit at the crease.

On one side, Root was exuding calm, relaxed, lithe, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom.

Meanwhile, a gloom was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc preparing for the key spell of the day.

A Costly Decision

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

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

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

The Veteran's Silent Answer

Thus one half of this England team continued to collapse, while at the other end Root batted for survival, but for the entire innings.

He offered his own quiet rebuke, a victory for doing your homework, correcting your flaws.

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

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