Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
