Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets 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 diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
