Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
