In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
