Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
