In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
You might not like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: 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 justification of the surface which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
