Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
