Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
