In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
