Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
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 wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
