Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
