Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
