Within a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
