In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
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 varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, advantage when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
