Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
