In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the pitch which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals 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 idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
