Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
