Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
