In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
