Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
