Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
