Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
