In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
