Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature 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 wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
