In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals 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 endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
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 mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
