Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
