Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum 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 elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
