Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
