Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum 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 controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
