In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
