Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores 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 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
