In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
You might not like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: 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 varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
