Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
