In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
