Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
