Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together 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 Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
