Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
