In a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence 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 wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
