In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a victory and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
