Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
