Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the field to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
