In a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
