Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
