In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: 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 delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
