In a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
