Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not appreciate 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 fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
