Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
