Within a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
