The England captain's 22nd Test century against India at Lord's was constructed in front of his wife and two young children, the first time they have watched him take the field together
For just a moment, England's captain allowed himself to enjoy the moment. Removing himself from the match situation, Joe Root lifted his bat in the direction of his young family assembled at Lord's. This was for them.
It was the first time wife Carrie, four-year-old son Alfred and daughter Isabella, born last summer, had watched dad take the field together. Whatever follows, and it is fair to say there is plenty left in the tank, few will be more special than this.
"You see Carrie there my wife, it is the first time my kids have been able to come and watch, both of them together so it was quite special in that respect," Root told Sky Sports.
"Alfred is now four so he'll be able to remember this which was really quite a special one for me.
"I've been told by a few people to really enjoy and celebrate moments like that because they don't come around very often and I try to make sure the last couple of times really did."
Sporting parents have regularly spoken of the pride of performing in front of their kids. Serena Williams and Jessica Ennis-Hill are among the recent examples.
Simplicity is the key to Root's glorious 2021
Root would never normally allow himself to become wrapped up in personal pride, with the team's position always the priority. But the nation, not least his teammates, would forgive him this moment of indulgence.
Whatever does transpire over the remaining months of 2021, a year billed as a defining one for his captaincy but is increasingly looking like a memorable period for his batting, it has already been an outstanding eight months for the 30-year-old.
This unbeaten 180 was his fifth hundred of the year, a knock during which he became England's second all-time leading run-scorer in Tests behind Sir Alastair Cook. Even if India aren't defeated and the Ashes cannot be regained, this can still be a year of huge personal achievement, even if Root won't see it like that.
The most centuries (nine) and runs (1,788) in a calendar year both held by Mohammad Yousuf from 2006 is certainly within reach with six Tests still to play. Denis Compton's six three-figure scores in 1947 and the 1,481 runs made by Michael Vaughan 2002 at the time of writing appear a mere formality.
"That is something I'll enjoy looking back on when I've finished playing," he typically said of the records. "It's nice to near nice things as you go along but my mindset is all about winning and putting us in positions to win with the bat."
Cook and Root: Record-chasing
Plenty has been made about how Root has tinkered with his technique; changes to his trigger movement and his guard, re-establishing a rhythm with his hands and ensuring he is more beside the ball. But above all else, he keeps things simple.
"I think having real clarity about how I want to go and play," he explained. "I've got a better understanding of things and working through a few different things technically.
"Jacques Kallis said in South Africa that the first hundred is for the taxman the rest is where you earn your money and as a tight Yorkshireman that sort of hit home with me. It is about making sure you earn your coin and make it count when you get in.
"I've been pleased with how it has gone so far. There is a lot of cricket still to be played this summer and I'm very keen to carry that forward."