In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
