In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
