Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
