Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
