In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by recognized 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 experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
