In a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
