Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
