Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
