Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
