Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum 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 fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
