Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
