Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when players fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
