Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
