Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
