In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the attack dominated, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
