Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
