Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
