Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together 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 Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
