In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
