In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
