Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
