In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
