'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Cricket Test.
In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.