In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken 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 lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the patience made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
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, restoring the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.