Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, 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 veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
