Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
