Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
