Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
