Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
