In a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
