Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
