In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting effectively. The best individual scores were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.