In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
