Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
