In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
