In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
