Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
