In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, momentum when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
