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Ultimately, the moment of celebration was ideal, out there under that unusual deep-blue southern sky, within the tumult of the match situation – hyper Baz energy, the English lower order cutting loose with reckless abandon at the other end.

Right. All that drama. At the heart, the former captain guided the ball away through fine leg to complete his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia.

However, for those who understand, the significance is clear. Consider trying to explain the reason this was not just heartwarming, inspiring and cathartic, but quietly epic.

A Moment Frozen in Time

A man who already possessed thirty-nine hundreds in this traditional format of a sport has now compiled his fortieth. But, consider the journey, the skill, the twists and turns.

There'll, of course, be much debate material to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards?

Yet there exists something deeper about wanting Root to be great in Australia. This isn't concerning point-scoring. Every Australian who knows about cricket already knows Root is a world-class cricketer.

The Captain's Century as a Solid Foundation

The century felt significant in other ways, especially as something solid in the series for this team, a foothold in the glacier.

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 superb one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that may have saved his team in this series.

The innings commenced with the wings already falling off, and England’s premier batsman coming out at two wickets down for five runs. A chance was put down early in the slips.

The Dichotomy in the Middle

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

At one end, Root was exuding calm, easy, lithe, 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 Mitchell Starc building up for the pivotal spell of the day.

A Reckless Stroke

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 healthy. There is no world where this was a good choice.

It was at least 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.

The Veteran's Steady Rebuke

Therefore one half of this England team persisted in failing, while at the other end Root batted with immense resolve, but for the entire innings.

Root provided his own subtle correction, a triumph for preparation, addressing your flaws.

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

Will they take twenty wickets? Will they adapt? Not sure. But Joe Root made a hundred.