Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
