In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
