In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
