Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
