Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
