In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken 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 inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
