Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
