In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
