Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
