In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
