Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
