In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
