In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
