In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
