In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
