Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and chanted, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
