Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
