Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
