Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
