Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
In the end, this MCG win joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
