In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.