Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium 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 effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
