Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
