Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
