Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
