Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
