In a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
