Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
