Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
