Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
