Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
