In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
