Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
