In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
You might not like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
