In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet significance can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
