Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
