Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.