'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Shortened Match Remained Every Bit a Authentic Cricket Test.
In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
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 surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
