In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. 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 awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
