Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, impetus when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
