Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
