In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
