Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in during the match 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 problem solving – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
