In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
