Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
