In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
