Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
