In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
