In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
