Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
