In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when batters responded, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
