In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
