In a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time made in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
