In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
