In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
