In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, 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 marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
