Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you like 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 songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
