Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
