In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
