Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
