Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
