Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
