Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
