Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
