Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
