In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match 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 batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
