Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the attack dominated, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
