In a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
