🔗 Share this article Magnificent Joe Root Glories in Aussie Triumph at Finally but Harry Brook's Error Might Be Costly Ultimately, the very celebration was flawless, on the field under that unique vivid blue southern sky, amid the chaos of the match situation – frantic Baz energy, England’s lower order cutting loose death cult-style at the other end. Right. All that drama. At the heart, the former captain guided the ball away to fine leg to secure his long-awaited Test hundred in Australia. But, then if you know, you know. Consider trying to explain the reason this was more than heartwarming, inspiring and cleansing, but quietly epic. A Milestone Frozen in Its Own Light A player who already possessed 39 hundreds in this starchy formal dance of a sport has now registered his 40th. But, consider the narrative, the skill, the jags in the road. There will, of course, be much debate talk to be settled. Has Joe Root finally achieved greatness? Is he considered great by Australian standards? However, there is something further about wanting Root to be great in Australia. It isn't regarding point-scoring. Any Australian who cares for cricket already knows Root is a great cricketer. Root's Century as a Reliable Foundation This ton felt significant in other ways, particularly as something solid 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. Was Harry Brook's dismissal the poorest shot? Yes. He did. This was not merely a hundred in Australia, but a brilliant one in genuinely tough conditions, an innings that could have saved his team in this series. It began with the team in deep trouble, and England’s key batter coming out at 5/2. Root was dropped early in the slips. The Juxtaposition in the Crease As the day progressed, England were 175 for three. Two embodiments of elite Yorkshire-dom at the crease. At one end, Root was exuding calm, easy, graceful, watchful. At the other, Brook was batting like a man who urgently requires the bathroom. All the while, a dusk was coming, shadows creeping across the ground, and Mitchell Starc revving up for the key spell of the day. A Reckless Decision Is it wise to challenge this? Yep. No settling in, no feet. Just throw the hands at it first up. The ball to Brook was full-length, the edge clear. There is no context where this was a good choice. It was at least novel in its complete misjudgment. We have seen England bat in Australia without fluidity. Now Brook presented the scarecrow, batting without a brain. Root's Quiet Rebuke 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 delivered his own masterful response, a success for doing your homework, working at your flaws. The tourists are still in this series because he did the thing, offered a lesson in what talent in the end means. Can they dismiss Australia? Are they going to learn? Not sure. But Joe Root compiled a hundred.