Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
