Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
