In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
