Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
