In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
