Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
