Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion 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 rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
