In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.