In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
