Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
