Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
