Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
