Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
