In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling 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 suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
