Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
