Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
