In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
