In a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
