Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
