Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
