Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
