Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
