Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
