Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
