Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
