In a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
