Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
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 contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
