Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink outfit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling 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 suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
