Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way 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 playing is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
