'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Two-Day Test Was No Less a Authentic Test Match.
In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.