Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
