Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
