Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
