Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
