In a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
