Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
