In a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
