'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Test Was No Less a Genuine Cricket Test.
Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, 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 not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the patience committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.