Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
