Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes 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 great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence 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 wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
