Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
