In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
