Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes 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 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
