Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
