Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
