Ashes 2013: Joe Root's assured innings proves selectors were right to drop Nick Compton We were treated to six hours of that by Root yesterday. The Australians gave him a helping hand with a pleasant leg stump half volley first ball of the morning from Peter Siddle. Clinically, Root put it away wide of mid-on. Afterwards the bowlers were more disciplined, and made Root earn his runs. He was neat and compact in defence, playing the ball almost daringly late, right under his nose. This is a significant contrast to Compton who tends to commit to the front foot and go searching for the ball more. He is a rather rigid player where Root glides about the crease, shifting generally onto the backfoot, riding the ball's movement, sometimes a little slow to get forward when the ball is full but careful not to be drawn into playing away from his body. He has the face of a choirboy but the worldliness of a minister. There is superb organisation and control in his play. The defence is secure, the judgment of what to leave and what to play almost flawless, but he is an opportunist, always looking to score. There were cuffs backward of square if the ball was short, firm pushes through mid wicket, deft glances and nifty dabs. Calls to his partner are clear and immediate. One square drive, played with body leaning well forward, back foot low to the ground, was an all-time classic, the ball laser-guided to the boundary into the gap square of the wicket. Despite his youth, he doesn't expend excess energy at the crease, strolling casually to square leg between balls, smiling contentedly, clearly relishing the contest. He rehearses shots after the delivery, but not in an anxious, concerned way, more just to groove his movements. It was like a master craftsman polishing his tools. It was hard to believe this was not his 80th Test, but his eighth. When he got into the forties he registered his 1000th first class run of the summer - average 90 - and soon after steered a ball, Michael Atherton-like though backward point to bring up his first Ashes fifty. A straight drive just before lunch had the essence of Michael Vaughan. After weathering a brief run drought in the 70s, as the Australians at last managed to string a few decent deliveries together, he progressed to 99, and, betraying no nerves, made room to square cut Ashton Agar and go to three figures. He had attained what neither Vaughan nor Atherton had managed - making an Ashes century at the Mecca of cricket. It was a wretched day for Australia, starting with a leg stump gimme and rarely improving. It took them until 45 minutes after lunch to prise out the nightwatchman Tim Bresnan, and saw a reputable catch denied them by the limitations of the TV cameras. Facing their sixth successive Test defeat, this is rapidly becoming their annus horibilis.