In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
