Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
