Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which yielded a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
