In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
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.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
