In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
