Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety 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 match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
