Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
