Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the attack dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, 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 latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
