Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
