In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
