Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
