Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
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 series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
