Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
