In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.