Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
