Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
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 dependent on conditions.
The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
