Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: 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, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
