Within a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
