Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
