In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety 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 damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. 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 back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
