Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
