In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
