In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
