Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team 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 success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
