In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
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 seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
