In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
