Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
