Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion 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 diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
