Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
