Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
