Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
