Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
