Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
