Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death 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."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
