Within a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
