In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
