In a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
