In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
