In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
