Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. 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. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
