Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
