Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
