In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
