In a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
