Within a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
