In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
