Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
