In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
