Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
