Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.
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 songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
