Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
