In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
