Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
