Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
