Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
