Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
