Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
