In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
