Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
