In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
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 dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea 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, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment made in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
