In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
