Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
