In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.