Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
