In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion 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 diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
