In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
