Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
