Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
