Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
