Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
