In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, 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 victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
