In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
