Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: 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 a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
