In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
