Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the investment devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
