Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, 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 explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, 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 gathered on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
