In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
