In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
