In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
