Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
