In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
