Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
